Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease in children

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Infectious Diseases
• Rheumatology
• Histopathology

Background:

• Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD) is a rare, self-limiting condition characterized by cervical lymphadenopathy.
• It primarily affects children and young adults, presenting diagnostic challenges due to its varied clinical manifestations.
• Understanding KFD's pediatric epidemiology and clinical course is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the clinical characteristics of pediatric Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease.
• To determine the recurrence rate of KFD in children.
• To identify potential risk factors or associations with KFD recurrence.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of pediatric patients diagnosed with KFD between January 2000 and September 2017.
• Inclusion criteria: patients under 18 years with histological confirmation of KFD from lymph node biopsy.
• Data collection included patient demographics, clinical presentation, laboratory findings, treatment, and follow-up outcomes.

Main Results:

• A total of 98 pediatric patients (52 boys, 46 girls) were identified, with a median age of 11.2 years.
• KFD recurred in 12.2% of patients, with recurrent cases more likely to be hospitalized and present with fever initially.
• One patient (1%) developed systemic lupus erythematosus 10 years post-KFD diagnosis.

Conclusions:

• Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease in children shows a higher incidence in males and a significant recurrence rate of 12.2%.
• A small percentage of pediatric KFD patients may develop systemic lupus erythematosus, highlighting the need for long-term surveillance.
• Continued follow-up is recommended to monitor for KFD recurrence and associated autoimmune conditions.