Clinical Outcomes of IgG4-Related Ophthalmic Disease and Idiopathic Sclerosing Orbital Inflammation

IgG4-Related Dacryoadenitis With Fibrous Mass in a 19-Month-Old Child: Case Report and Literature Review

A 19-month-old boy presented with eyelid swelling, proptosis, and upgaze limitation in the OD. The radiological study showed a homogeneous mass enclosing the lacrimal gland. Near-total tumor excision revealed IgG4-related orbital disease. Eosinophilia, serum IgG4, and IgE elevations were detected without extraorbital involvement. The patient received oral prednisolone for 4 months postoperatively and remained relapse-free for 27 months. Among the 17 well-documented pediatric cases of IgG4-related orbital disease in the literature (including this case), 59% were female, and the median age was 10 years; 2 patients were under 2 years old. The disease was unilateral in 82% of the patients and caused a soft tissue mass in 88%, involving the lacrimal gland in 53%. Nine patients received immunosuppression only, 4 surgery and immunosuppression, and 2 only surgical excision. Treatment results were reported in 13 patients, and all were favorable. IgG4-related dacryoadenitis with a fibrous mass may occur in very young children, responding well to surgical excision and steroids. Although pediatric IgG4-related orbital disease is not well-characterized yet, it may manifest differently from its adult variant.

Unraveling the Clinical Features and Outcomes of IgG4-Related Ophthalmic Disease

Background/Objectives: IgG4-related ophthalmic disease (IgG4-ROD), characterized by lymphoplasmacytic infiltration, fibrosis, and elevated IgG4 levels, presents diagnostic challenges while offering insights into immune-mediated inflammatory disorders. The aim of this study was to comprehensively examine the clinical features and outcomes of IgG4-ROD. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 33 patients diagnosed with IgG4-ROD, fulfilling the American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism (ACR/EULAR) criteria. The demographic characteristics of the IgG4-ROD patients were compared with those of 37 patients diagnosed with IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) in departments other than ophthalmology (IgG4-nonROD) at the same hospital during the same period. The patients diagnosed with IgG4-ROD were initially treated with glucocorticosteroid (GCS) monotherapy, GCS combined with steroid-sparing agents (SSAs; mycophenolate mofetil, azathioprine, hydroxychloroquine), biologic agent (rituximab) monotherapy, or watchful waiting. The primary outcome was the assessed treatment response at 6 months, and the secondary outcome was the evaluation of recurrence at 1 year after initial treatment. A response was evaluated as the absence of ocular signs and symptoms, either clinically or radiologically. Results: Eyelid swelling (17 patients, 51.5%) was the most common symptom, and lacrimal gland (17 patients, 51.5%) was the most frequent site of involvement. The response rate for GCS monotherapy was 33.3% (3 out of 9 patients), while the response rate for GCS combined with SSA was 60.0% (9 out of 15 patients). The lacrimal gland group demonstrated a significantly higher treatment response compared to the non-lacrimal gland group (66.7% vs. 20.0%, p = 0.013), and the combination of GCS and SSA resulted in a significantly higher treatment response than the GCS monotherapy (77.8% vs. 33.3%, p = 0.045). The group including hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), which comprised 5 out of 33 patients (15.2%), showed no recurrence at 1 year. Conclusions: The combination therapy of GCS and SSA for IgG4-ROD can be considered an effective treatment approach and HCQ could be considered as a potential adjunctive therapy for IgG4-ROD.

Acute Orbital Apex Syndrome Caused by Idiopathic Sclerosing Orbital Inflammation

Idiopathic sclerosing orbital inflammation (ISOI) is a distinct entity among other orbital diseases. It is characterized by marked fibrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration that can damage orbital structures. Clinical manifestations were variable, including ocular and periocular redness, proptosis, and pain. Ocular motor restrictions and optic nerve dysfunction might occur in severe cases. We herein report a patient of ISOI who presented with total ophthalmoplegia and acute vision loss. His symptoms were relieved mainly as his vision improved to 20/25 after receiving corticosteroid and immunosuppressant therapies. Therefore, ISOI should be one of the deferential diagnoses when we encounter cases with acute orbital apex syndrome. With prompt evaluation and in-time treatment, a favorable outcome is possible.

Long-Term Follow-Up in IgG4-Related Ophthalmic Disease: Serum IgG4 Levels and Their Clinical Relevance

(1) Background: To analyze the association between long-term changes in serum IgG4 levels and the clinical course of patients with IgG4-related ophthalmic disease (IgG4-ROD). (2) Methods: Retrospective analysis of 25 patients with IgG4-ROD. (3) Results: Mean age at diagnosis was 60.68 years. Fifty-six percent of patients had bilateral ocular involvement and 32% had systemic associations. The ocular structures involved were the lacrimal gland (76%), orbital soft tissue (36%), extraocular muscle (20%) and infraorbital nerve (20%). According to last follow-up, 9 (36%) patients had normalized IgG4 levels, and 16 (64%) patients had elevated IgG4 levels. Patients with normalized IgG4 levels had better response to initial steroid treatment and attained a significantly lower IgG4 level after treatment (p = 0.002). The highest IgG4 levels were at baseline and disease recurrence, and lowest after initial treatment. At final follow-up, IgG4 levels differed in patients with remission (mean 326.25 mg/dL) and stable disease (mean 699.55 mg/dL). Subgroup analysis was performed in patients with remission, categorized according to whether IgG4 levels were normalized (9 patients) or elevated (10 patients) on last follow up. The elevated group had a higher percentage of bilateral disease, lacrimal gland involvement and recurrence. (4) Conclusions: IgG4-ROD patients with a greater response to initial steroid therapy were more inclined to have normalized IgG4 levels in the long term. Some patients remained in remission despite persistently elevated IgG4 levels, and had regular follow-up without treatment.

[IgG4-related ophthalmopathy]

IgG4-related disease is a chronic inflammatory fibrosing disease of unknown etiology, characterized by the presence of volumetric lesions that can clinically simulate malignant tumors, a pronounced IgG4-positive lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate, and an increase in the level of IgG4 in the blood serum. A special form of the disease is IgG4-related ophthalmopathy, which requires differential diagnosis with inflammatory pseudotumor, lymphoma and granulomatous polyangiitis. 7 clinical cases of IgG4-related ophthalmopathy are presented. It has been shown that follicle-like structures with the structure of a lymph node are formed in the tissues of the orbit. Along with a large number of cells in the inflammatory infiltrate expressing CD138, IgG and IgG4, there are CD8+ and CD68+ cells. IgG4-related ophthalmopathy is a rare manifestation of IgG4-related disease. Its morphogenesis involves not only IgG, IgG4 and CD138 positive plasma cells, which are diagnostic. CD8 and CD68- positive cells are involved too. They persisted in large quantity in the lymphohistiocytic infiltrate. The study of the lymphocyte population can help in revealing the pathogenesis and morphogenesis of this rare disease.