[Systemic lupus erythematosus and Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease mimicking tuberculosis]

Kikuchi-Fujimoto's disease (KFD) or histiocytic narcotising lymphadenitis is a febrile benign lymphadenopathy of unknown etiology, involving more frequently cervical lymph nodes and diagnosed on biopsy of an affected node. It is sometimes associated with auto-immune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However less frequent symptoms including involvement of extracervical nodes, hepatosplenomegaly and systemic symptoms (weight loss, night sweats) are possible and suggest an infectious disease. We report the case of a Senegalese patient with positive Ag HBs who developed SLE and KFD mimicking tuberculosis. Atypical pseudo-infectious appearance of an inflammatory systemic disease is a rare occurrence and the diagnosis can be difficult.