Recurrent Kikuchi's Disease Treated by Hydroxychloroquine

Infect Chemother. 2016 Jun;48(2):127-31. doi: 10.3947/ic.2016.48.2.127. Epub 2016 Jun 30.

Abstract

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD) is a benign, self-limiting disease, with a specific histopathology. It can be diagnosed clinically, and specific symptoms include fever and cervical lymphadenopathy. The histological finding of KFD in cervical lymph nodes includes necrotizing lymphadenitis. KFD needs conservative treatments. If KFD persists for a long period, steroids or nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs can be used to control symptoms. Previous studies have reported the treatment of KFD with hydroxychloroquine (HC) in patients unresponsive to steroids. Herein, we report a case of a 25-year-old female patient diagnosed with KFD unresponsive to steroids, and was successfully treated with HC.

Keywords: Hydroxychloroquine; Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease; Lymphadenitis.