[Kikuchi-Fujimoto's disease or histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis: A report of two familial cases].

INTRODUCTION: The histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis or Kikuchi-Fujimoto's disease is characterized by a lymph node inflammation whose similarity with systemic lupus is generally admitted.

CASE REPORT: Our description of two familial cases aims at raising the hypothesis of the existence of a genetic background in this disease following the example of what is observed in the autoimmune diseases.

CONCLUSION: Pathophysiology of Kikuchi-Fujimoto's disease is probably multifactorial and may include predisposing genetic background and a possible infectious triggering event.