Cytophagic Histiocytic Panniculitis and Kikuchi-Fujimoto-Like Lymphadenitis in a Patient With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Cureus. 2022 Sep 8;14(9):e28951. doi: 10.7759/cureus.28951. eCollection 2022 Sep.

Abstract

A 54-year-old African American male with systemic lupus erythematosus and chronic alcoholic hepatitis presented with recurrent fever, pancytopenia, transaminitis, weight loss, and widespread violaceous tender plaques. Skin biopsy revealed hemophagocytic histiocytes leading to a diagnosis of cytophagic histiocytic panniculitis in the setting of lupus panniculitis. During workup, an axillary lymph node biopsy mimicked Kikuchi-Fujimoto's disease. Treatment with tapering high-dose glucocorticoids, mycophenolate mofetil, and hydroxychloroquine induced remission of the disease. We believe the comorbid conditions of Kikuchi-Fujimoto-like pathology and cytophagic histiocytic panniculitis have not been documented in the literature to date in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Keywords: chp; cytophagic histiocytic panniculitis; histiocyte; kikuchi; kikuchi fujimoto’s disease; kikuchi-fujimoto with systemis lupus erythematosous; lupus erythematosus panniculitis; lymphadenitis; sle; systemic lupus erythromatosus.

Publication types

  • Case Reports