J Korean Soc Pediatr Nephrol.  2012 Oct;16(2):138-141.

Kikuchi-Fujimoto Disease, A Possible Complication of Rituximab Treatment

• Lee J
• Chang HJ
• Lee ST
• Kang HG
• Ha IS
• Cheong HI

Abstract

Rituximab, a chimeric anti-CD20 IgG1 monoclonal antibody, has been used as a rescue therapy for steroid-dependent or refractory nephrotic syndrome. However, the adverse effects of rituximab are yet to be investigated. We report a case of a 9-year-old boy with steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome who developed Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease after several cycles of rituximab therapy. Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease is a benign, self-limited necrotizing histiocytic lymphadenitis of unknown etiology. In the present case, Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease developed when the peripheral blood B-cell count of the patient was at nadir, and the lesion regressed slowly but spontaneously after recovery of the B-cell count. To our knowledge, although the pathologic diagnosis of Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease was unavailable, this is the first report of Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease with clinical diagnosis as a possible adverse effect of rituximab.

Keyword

B-cell; Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease; Nephrotic syndrome; Rituximab

MeSH Terms

Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
B-Lymphocytes
Child
Histiocytic Necrotizing Lymphadenitis
Humans
Immunoglobulin G
Lymphadenitis
Nephrotic Syndrome
Rituximab
Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
Immunoglobulin G