It has been generally recognized that the lymphadenopathy induced by the anticonvulsant, hydantoin, shows the similar clinical and histological findings to malignant lymphoma, especially Hodgkin's disease.
In this paper, the case of diphenylhydantoin-induced lymhadenopathy which showed the similar clinical and histological findings to immunoblastic lymphadenopathy was reported.
A 47-year-old man was administered diphenylhydantoin since April to June 1977. The erythema appeared and disappeared since the time of the administration of diphenylhydantoin. The generalized lymphadenopathy was observed since July 1977, and enlarged gradually, and the abnormal findings of the immunological examination was observed (increased IgM, increased B-cell count, positive antinuclear antibody, etc.). The histological findings of the lymph node by biopsy showed disappearance of nodal architecture, and proliferation of arborizing small vessels with proliferation of immunoblasts whereas almost no acidophilic amorphous interstitial substance was observed.
These findings were improved by administration of prednisolone. The patient was readministered diphenylhydantoin after four months, and the same results were obtained. Similar cases to this in literatures were reviewed and relationship of the clinical and histological findings between immunoblastic lymphadenopathy and this case was discussed.
