Combined treatment of steroids and cyclosporine in Kimura disease.

Abstract

Kimura disease is a rare but distinctive chronic eosinophilic inflammatory disorder that is characterized by tumor-like lesions in the soft tissue and lymph nodes of the head and neck or parotid gland. Recently, many immunopathogenetic features of underlying T lymphocytes and related cytokines have been noted in Kimura disease. However, few previous studies have investigated the serial levels of cytokines in children. In this report we describe an 11-year-old Japanese boy with relapsing Kimura disease. Before the diagnosis of Kimura disease, the patient had a swelling on his left neck. Steroids were effective, but the tumor relapsed within a few months as the steroids were tapered. He was treated with steroids and cyclosporine. This treatment was done by measuring serial levels of serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor, interleukin-4, interleukin-5, and eosinophil cationic protein. These results suggest the activation of T-helper cells and T-helper 2 cytokines, that after activated B cells and eosinophilic infiltration play an important role in Kimura disease, and that cyclosporine suppresses the activity of this disease.

• Authors: Satoshi Sato, Hisashi Kawashima, Shinji Kuboshima, Kiyoko Watanabe, Yasuyo Kashiwagi, Kouji Takekuma, Akinori Hoshika
• Journal: Pediatrics (Pediatrics) Vol. 118 Issue 3 Pg. e921-3 (Sep 2006) ISSN: 1098-4275 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 16908621 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Cytokines
• Immunosuppressive Agents
• Steroids
• Cyclosporine

Topics

• Angiolymphoid Hyperplasia with Eosinophilia (drug therapy, immunology)
• Child
• Cyclosporine (therapeutic use)
• Cytokines (blood)
• Humans
• Immunosuppressive Agents (therapeutic use)
• Male
• Recurrence
• Steroids (therapeutic use)
• T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer