generalized lymphadenopathy generalized lymphadenopathy generalized lymphadenopathy is swollen lymph glands in many areas of the body. generalized lymphadenopathylymphadenopathy due to systemic lupus erythematosus with characteristic necrosis and haematoxylin bodies. h&e stain.specialtyinfectious disease usually this is in response to a body-wide infectious disease such as influenza and will go away once the person has recovered, but sometimes it can persist long-term, even when there is no obvious cause of disease. this is then called persistent generalized lymphadenopathy (pgl). causes infection : viral : infectious mononucleosis, infective hepatitis, aids bacterial : tuberculosis, brucellosis, secondary syphilis, tularemia protozoal : toxoplasmosis fungal : histoplasmosis malignant : leukaemia metastatic carcinoma immunological : systemic lupus erythematosus felty's syndrome still's disease drug hypersensitivity as hydantoin, hydralazine, allopurinol misc. : sarcoidosis amyloidosis lipid storage disease hyperthyroidism