Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease and systemic lupus erythematosus – an enigmatic association for clinicians and pathologists: Case report and short literature review

Abstract Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease or histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis is a benign condition of the lymphatic tissue whose cause has not been fully elucidated. Although it thought that various viral infections are involved in onset disease, its immunological characteristics expressed by proliferation cytotoxic CD8-positive T lymphocytes and phagocytosis place at border autoimmunity. Sharing mechanisms, clinical manifestations, epidemiological data (both described young women) with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), association two pathologies represents challenge for both clinicians pathologists. We present case woman SLE immunological, haematological articular involvement, who associates few months after diagnosis significant swelling submandibular glands latero-cervical lymphadenopathy. Histopathological immunohistochemical examinations subsequently certify associated autoimmune disease.