title: Autoimmune manifestations of Kikuchi disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Kikuchi's disease (KD) has been associated with the presence of autoantibodies, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and other autoimmune diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of autoimmune manifestations in a KD cohort with a long follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty patients with histologically confirmed KD since January 1990 until December 2010 were studied; 12 of them were periodically followed up as outpatients. Another 7 patients were contacted by telephone to offer them a specific consultation and a complete autoimmunity study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirteen of 20 patients were women (65%) with a mean age of 29 years (range, 15-79). The age at diagnosis was higher in men (44 vs 27 years, P < 0.05). Lymphopenia was present in 75% of the patients (15/20) and was the more frequent hematological abnormality. The mean follow-up of the 17 patients included in the autoimmunity study was 119 months (range, 15-252). Autoimmune diseases were detected in 9 women (53%): SLE was diagnosed in 4 patients (2 SLE before, 1 simultaneous, and 1 after KD), 2 patients developed primary Sjögren's syndrome after KD, 1 thyroiditis before KD, 1 SLE-like, and 1 antiphospholipid antibodies after KD. Leukocytoclastic vasculitis was found in 2 patients; 1 of them eventually developed SLE. Female sex, painful adenopathies, and cytopenias were significantly associated with autoimmune diseases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among patients with KD, only women developed autoimmune manifestations. Therefore, long-term follow-up and active surveillance of autoimmune diseases in patients with KD, especially women, are recommended.
authors.affiliation: Thrombosis and Vasculitis Unit, Internal Medicine Service, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario of Vigo (CHUVI), Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain. bsopena@gmail.com
authors.forename: Bernardo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sopeña
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rivera
authors.forename: Caritina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vázquez-Triñanes
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fluiters
authors.forename: Joaquín
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: González-Carreró
authors.forename: Margarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: del Pozo
authors.forename: Mayka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Freire
authors.forename: César
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martínez-Vázquez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D020042:Histiocytic Necrotizing Lymphadenitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies