Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease concurrent with aseptic meningitis or encephalitis in children: a case-control study

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Neurology
• Infectious Diseases
• Rheumatology

Background:

• Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD) is a rare, self-limiting disorder.
• Central nervous system (CNS) involvement in pediatric KFD is uncommon but serious.
• This study focuses on KFD concurrent with aseptic meningitis or encephalitis in children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize the clinical and laboratory features of pediatric KFD with CNS involvement.
• To identify characteristics associated with aseptic meningitis or encephalitis in KFD patients.
• To aid in the differential diagnosis of CNS infections in children.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study was conducted.
• Data from 64 pediatric KFD cases (16 with CNS involvement, 48 controls) were analyzed.
• Clinical and laboratory findings were compared between groups.

Main Results:

• The 16 CNS-involved cases had a median age of 8 years, with fever and cervical lymph node tenderness being common.
• Leukoencephalopathy was observed in 11 cases on head imaging.
• Cervical lymph node tenderness, headache, confusion, convulsions, elevated C-reactive protein, and elevated lactate dehydrogenase were significantly associated with CNS involvement.

Conclusions:

• Pediatric KFD patients with cervical lymph node tenderness, elevated C-reactive protein, or elevated lactate dehydrogenase require evaluation for CNS involvement.
• Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis for children presenting with aseptic meningitis or encephalitis.