Autoimmune hepatitis associated with Kikuchi–Fujimotoʼs disease

Abstract

We describe a 20-year-old woman with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) with cirrhosis who developed Kikuchi-Fujimoto's disease (KFD) and de novo minor features of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This is the first report of a patient with histologically confirmed AIH developing KFD (histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis). One previous case described KFD after AIH (diagnosed clinically but without biopsy). KFD is a rare condition of unknown aetiology, first described in 1972, characterized by fever and cervical adenopathy and has a self-limiting course. KFD is associated with SLE, and SLE in turn can be associated with abnormal liver function tests, which in a minority of cases may be due to AIH. The association of AIH, KFD, and SLE in our patient suggests an autoimmune pathogenesis of KFD.