[Histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis: report of 3 cases]

Histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis (also known as Kikuchi-Fujimoto's disease) is an uncommon, benign and self-limiting lymph disease. We report three patients aged 14, 22 and 50 years, who presented with fever and cervical lymphadenopathy, accompanied by skin lesions and joint pain in two of the three cases. One of the patient's sister suffered from histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis. Laboratory abnormalities varied and findings included leucopenia, relative neutrophilia, elevated C reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and ferritin. Basic laboratory screening tests were performed on all patients to rule out autoimmune and infectious diseases. Lymph node biopsy and subsequent pathological examination were essential to establish the diagnosis. All patients received antibiotics at some point of their hospital stay. Two patients required glucocorticoid treatment, while the remaining case experienced a spontaneous recovery. Its pathogenesis is still unknown, but clinical and histopathological studies suggest a connection with autoimmune diseases. There is no established treatment, but apparently the disease responds to the administration of glucocorticoids.