Recurrent Kikuchi-Fujimoto Disease Successfully Treated by the Concomitant Use of Hydroxychloroquine and Corticosteroids

Abstract

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD) is a benign disease of unknown etiology characterized by lymphadenopathy and a fever. For the majority of patients with KFD, the course is self-limited; however, the optimum method of managing recurrent cases has not yet been established. We herein report a case of a 42-year-old Japanese woman with KFD (confirmed by a lymph node biopsy). Although high-dose prednisolone (PSL) rapidly induced remission, she experienced four recurrences on treatment tapering. Concomitant use of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) with low-dose PSL induced continuous remission. This is the first case to suggest the effectiveness of HCQ for recurrent KFD in a Japanese patient.