title: Encephalitis and CSF increased level of interferon-α in Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease.
abstract: Neurological manifestations have been reported in Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD). Characteristics of brain lesions are not defined. In addition, no biological indexes are known to help clinicians along the diagnosis process. The authors describe encephalitis associated with KFD. Brain MRI, positron emission tomography (PET) scan and a large biological assessment including interferon α (INF-α) level measurement in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were performed. A 39-year-old man with chronic headaches developed diplopia, slow ideation and behavioural disturbances. MRI showed brain lesions particularly in the pontine region and internal temporal lobes with enhancement of the perivacular space and the walls of the lateral ventricle. The IFN-α level was increased in the CSF without viral infection. Cervical and mediastinal adenitis were evident as a hypermetabolic focus on a PET scan, and biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of KFD. The encephalitis spontaneously remitted. The authors characterised brain lesions especially related to KFD in association with increased of IFN-α level in the CSF.
authors.affiliation: Neurology Department, Fondation Ophtalmologique Adolphe de Rothschild, Paris, France. agueguen@fo-rothschild.fr
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guéguen
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sené
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maillart
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gout
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D020042:Histiocytic Necrotizing Lymphadenitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D051598:Whole Body Imaging
chemical_list: D017252:CD3 Complex; D016898:Interferon-alpha