Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease concurrent with aseptic meningitis or encephalitis in children: a case-control study

Abstract Background This study was performed to summarize the clinical and laboratory features of children with Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease concurrent with aseptic meningitis or encephalitis. Methods A case-control study of children diagnosed with Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease at Beijing Children’s Hospital...

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Main Authors: Bing Liu, Yi Sun, Bing Hu, Wen-yuan Shi, Tian-ming Chen, Lin-lin Liu, Gang Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-04-01
Series:BMC Pediatrics
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-025-05648-y
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author Bing Liu
Yi Sun
Bing Hu
Wen-yuan Shi
Tian-ming Chen
Lin-lin Liu
Gang Liu
author_facet Bing Liu
Yi Sun
Bing Hu
Wen-yuan Shi
Tian-ming Chen
Lin-lin Liu
Gang Liu
author_sort Bing Liu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background This study was performed to summarize the clinical and laboratory features of children with Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease concurrent with aseptic meningitis or encephalitis. Methods A case-control study of children diagnosed with Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease at Beijing Children’s Hospital from January 2015 to December 2023 was conducted to determine the characteristics of the disease when concurrent with aseptic meningitis or encephalitis. Results Our cohort of 64 cases of Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease included 16 children with central nervous system involvement and 48 controls. Among the 16 affected children, the male: female ratio was 1.7:1.0. The age at onset ranged from 3 to 13 years, with a median age of 8 years. All 16 cases had fever, 15 had cervical lymph node tenderness, 11 had headache, and 14 showed decreased white blood cell counts in routine blood tests. Imaging of the head revealed abnormalities in 11 cases, specifically leukoencephalopathy with mostly bilateral involvement. Cervical lymph node tenderness, headache, confusion, convulsions, and elevated C-reactive protein were significantly associated with Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease concurrent with aseptic meningitis or encephalitis (p < 0.05). There was also a significant difference in lactate dehydrogenase levels between children with and without central nervous system involvement (575.8 ± 221.3 vs. 440.0 ± 163.1 U/L, p = 0.014). Conclusions For children with Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease, careful evaluation for central nervous system involvement is warranted when cervical lymph node tenderness, elevated C-reactive protein, or elevated lactate dehydrogenase is present. In children presenting with aseptic meningitis or encephalitis, Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease should be considered as a differential diagnosis. Clinical trial number Not applicable.
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spelling doaj-art-604f794f44e448efbab91fdf704e7d632025-08-20T02:16:07ZengBMCBMC Pediatrics1471-24312025-04-012511710.1186/s12887-025-05648-yKikuchi-Fujimoto disease concurrent with aseptic meningitis or encephalitis in children: a case-control studyBing Liu0Yi Sun1Bing Hu2Wen-yuan Shi3Tian-ming Chen4Lin-lin Liu5Gang Liu6Department of Infectious Diseases, Beijing Children’s Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children’s Health, National Center for Children’s Infectious and Allergic Diseases Surveillance, Beijing Research Center for Respiratory Infectious Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Core Technologies for the Prevention and Treatment of Emerging Infectious Diseases in Children, Key Laboratory of Major Diseases in Children, Ministry of EducationDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Beijing Children’s Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children’s Health, National Center for Children’s Infectious and Allergic Diseases Surveillance, Beijing Research Center for Respiratory Infectious Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Core Technologies for the Prevention and Treatment of Emerging Infectious Diseases in Children, Key Laboratory of Major Diseases in Children, Ministry of EducationDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Beijing Children’s Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children’s Health, National Center for Children’s Infectious and Allergic Diseases Surveillance, Beijing Research Center for Respiratory Infectious Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Core Technologies for the Prevention and Treatment of Emerging Infectious Diseases in Children, Key Laboratory of Major Diseases in Children, Ministry of EducationDepartment of Interventional Medicine, Beijing Children’s Hospital, National Center for Children’s Health, Capital Medical UniversityDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Beijing Children’s Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children’s Health, National Center for Children’s Infectious and Allergic Diseases Surveillance, Beijing Research Center for Respiratory Infectious Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Core Technologies for the Prevention and Treatment of Emerging Infectious Diseases in Children, Key Laboratory of Major Diseases in Children, Ministry of EducationDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Beijing Children’s Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children’s Health, National Center for Children’s Infectious and Allergic Diseases Surveillance, Beijing Research Center for Respiratory Infectious Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Core Technologies for the Prevention and Treatment of Emerging Infectious Diseases in Children, Key Laboratory of Major Diseases in Children, Ministry of EducationDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Beijing Children’s Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children’s Health, National Center for Children’s Infectious and Allergic Diseases Surveillance, Beijing Research Center for Respiratory Infectious Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Core Technologies for the Prevention and Treatment of Emerging Infectious Diseases in Children, Key Laboratory of Major Diseases in Children, Ministry of EducationAbstract Background This study was performed to summarize the clinical and laboratory features of children with Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease concurrent with aseptic meningitis or encephalitis. Methods A case-control study of children diagnosed with Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease at Beijing Children’s Hospital from January 2015 to December 2023 was conducted to determine the characteristics of the disease when concurrent with aseptic meningitis or encephalitis. Results Our cohort of 64 cases of Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease included 16 children with central nervous system involvement and 48 controls. Among the 16 affected children, the male: female ratio was 1.7:1.0. The age at onset ranged from 3 to 13 years, with a median age of 8 years. All 16 cases had fever, 15 had cervical lymph node tenderness, 11 had headache, and 14 showed decreased white blood cell counts in routine blood tests. Imaging of the head revealed abnormalities in 11 cases, specifically leukoencephalopathy with mostly bilateral involvement. Cervical lymph node tenderness, headache, confusion, convulsions, and elevated C-reactive protein were significantly associated with Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease concurrent with aseptic meningitis or encephalitis (p < 0.05). There was also a significant difference in lactate dehydrogenase levels between children with and without central nervous system involvement (575.8 ± 221.3 vs. 440.0 ± 163.1 U/L, p = 0.014). Conclusions For children with Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease, careful evaluation for central nervous system involvement is warranted when cervical lymph node tenderness, elevated C-reactive protein, or elevated lactate dehydrogenase is present. In children presenting with aseptic meningitis or encephalitis, Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease should be considered as a differential diagnosis. Clinical trial number Not applicable.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-025-05648-yHistiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitisChildMeningitis and encephalitis
spellingShingle Bing Liu
Yi Sun
Bing Hu
Wen-yuan Shi
Tian-ming Chen
Lin-lin Liu
Gang Liu
Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease concurrent with aseptic meningitis or encephalitis in children: a case-control study
BMC Pediatrics
Histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis
Child
Meningitis and encephalitis
title Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease concurrent with aseptic meningitis or encephalitis in children: a case-control study
title_full Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease concurrent with aseptic meningitis or encephalitis in children: a case-control study
title_fullStr Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease concurrent with aseptic meningitis or encephalitis in children: a case-control study
title_full_unstemmed Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease concurrent with aseptic meningitis or encephalitis in children: a case-control study
title_short Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease concurrent with aseptic meningitis or encephalitis in children: a case-control study
title_sort kikuchi fujimoto disease concurrent with aseptic meningitis or encephalitis in children a case control study
topic Histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis
Child
Meningitis and encephalitis
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-025-05648-y
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