Incidence and outcome of lung involvement in IgG4-related autoimmune pancreatitis

Pulmonary manifestations, treatments and outcomes of IgG4-related disease-a systematic literature review

Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a multisystem fibroinflammatory condition. A consistent feature of many cases is pulmonary infiltrates, or respiratory failure. This systematic literature review aims to summarise the pulmonary manifestations of IgG4-RD, including clinical outcomes and treatment. This review was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42023416410). Medline, Embase and Cochrane databases were searched for articles discussing IgG4-RD syndrome. Information was extracted on demographics, type and prevalence of pulmonary manifestations, treatment and clinical outcomes. Initially, after deduplication, 3123 articles were retrieved with 18 ultimately included. A pooled total of 724 patients with IgG4-RD were included, 68.6% male, mean age 59.4 years (SD 5.8) at disease onset. The most frequently described pulmonary manifestation was mediastinal lymphadenopathy (n = 186, 48.8%), followed by pulmonary nodules (n = 151, 39.6%) and broncho-vascular thickening (n = 85, 22.3%). Where treatment was reported, the majority of patients received glucocorticoids (n = 211, 93.4%). Other immunosuppressive therapy included cyclophosphamide (n = 31), azathioprine (n = 18), with mycophenolate mofetil (n = 6), rituximab (n = 6), methotrexate (n = 5) and other unspecified immunomodulators (50). Clinical outcomes were reported in 263 patients, where 196 patients had remission of their disease, 20 had relapse, 35 had stable disease, four had progression and eight patients died from complications of IgG4-RD. This systematic review summarises pulmonary manifestations, treatments and outcomes in patients with IgG4-RD. Pulmonary involvement in IgG4-RD is relatively common, leading to high levels of morbidity and mortality. Glucocorticoids remain the mainstay of treatment, but further work is required to explore the management of patients with pulmonary manifestations in association with IgG4-RD.

Severe asthma as the initial clinical manifestation of IgG4-related disease: a retrospective clinical study

Background

Respiratory involvement is common in immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD). However, severe asthma as the initial clinical manifestation of IgG4-RD is rare and might be neglected by respiratory clinicians. We aimed to explore the clinical characteristics and prognoses of patients with immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) manifesting as severe asthma.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of the clinical characteristics and prognoses of patients with severe asthma who were eventually diagnosed with IgG4-RD was performed in the Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 2013 to 2019.

Results

Twelve patients (5males, 7 females) were included. The mean age at enrollment and age of asthma onset were 59.4 ± 10.1 and 53.8 ± 10.4 years, respectively. The mean duration of asthma symptoms was 5.7 ± 2.0 years. In all patients, the proportion (25.1 ± 10.3%) and count (2.0 ± 1.1) × 10⁹/L of eosinophils in peripheral blood increased. Additionally, all patients exhibited elevated total immunoglobulin E [IgE, (1279.3 ± 1257.9) KU/L] and IgG4 (9155.8 ± 9247.6) mg/dL. Bronchial wall thickening (n = 11) and mediastinal/hilar lymphadenopathy (n = 11) were major chest CT manifestations. All were pathologically diagnosed through surgical biopsy; submandibular gland (n = 8), supraclavicular lymph node (n = 2), stomach (n = 1), rashes (n = 1), lacrimal gland (n = 1) and thoracoscopic lung (n = 1) biopsies were performed. Asthma was well controlled by oral glucocorticoids (GCs), but some patients relapsed during tapering (n = 11). The refractory condition was controlled after increasing the dosage of GCs and add-on immunosuppressants.

Conclusions

For patients with middle age-onset severe asthma with elevated eosinophils, total IgE and IgG4 levels and available salivary gland ultrasound imaging, ruling out IgG4-RD is recommended. GCs used in combination with immunosuppressants is recommended to prevent relapse.

Amendment of the Japanese consensus guidelines for autoimmune pancreatitis, 2020

In response to the latest knowledge and the amendment of the Japanese diagnostic criteria for autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) in 2018, the Japanese consensus guidelines for managing AIP in 2013 were required to be revised. Three committees [the professional committee for developing clinical questions (CQs) and statements by Japanese specialists; the expert panelist committee for rating statements by the modified Delphi method; and the evaluating committee of moderators] were organized. Twenty specialists in AIP extracted the specific clinical statements from a total of 5218 articles (1963-2019) from a search in PubMed and the Cochrane Library. The professional committee made 14, 9, 5, and 11 CQs and statements for the current concept and diagnosis, extra-pancreatic lesions, differential diagnosis, and treatment, respectively. The expert panelists regarded the statements as valid after a two-round modified Delphi approach with individually rating these clinical statements, in which a clinical statement receiving a median score greater than 7 on a 9-point scale from the panel was regarded as valid. After evaluation by the moderators, the amendment of the Japanese consensus guidelines for AIP has been proposed in 2020.

Thoracic involvement and imaging patterns in IgG4-related disease

OBJECTIVE

Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a rare orphan disease. Lung, pleura, pericardium, mediastinum, aorta and lymph node involvement has been reported with variable frequency and mostly in Asian studies. The objective of this study was to describe thoracic involvement assessed by high-resolution thoracic computed tomography (CT) in Caucasian patients with IgG4-RD.

METHODS

Thoracic CT scans before treatment were retrospectively collected through the French case registry of IgG4-RD and a single tertiary referral centre. CT scans were reviewed by two experts in thoracic imagery blinded from clinical data.

RESULTS

48 IgG4-RD patients with thoracic involvement were analysed. All had American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism classification scores ≥20 and comprehensive diagnostic criteria for IgG4-RD. CT scan findings showed heterogeneous lesions. Seven patterns were observed: peribronchovascular involvement (56%), lymph node enlargement (31%), nodular disease (25%), interstitial disease (25%), ground-glass opacities (10%), pleural disease (8%) and retromediastinal fibrosis (4%). In 37% of cases two or more patterns were associated. Asthma was significantly associated with peribronchovascular involvement (p=0.04). Among eight patients evaluated by CT scan before and after treatments, only two patients with interstitial disease displayed no improvement.

CONCLUSION

Thoracic involvement of IgG4-RD is heterogeneous and likely underestimated. The main thoracic CT scan patterns are peribronchovascular thickening and thoracic lymph nodes.

[Immunoglobulin G4-Related Disease in the Thorax: Imaging Findings and Differential Diagnosis]

Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a chronic inflammatory condition involving multiple organs, including the salivary or lacrimal glands, orbit, pancreas, bile duct, liver, kidney, retroperitoneum, aorta, lung, and lymph nodes. It is histologically characterized by tissue infiltration with lymphocytes and IgG4-secreting plasma cells, storiform fibrosis, and obliterative phlebitis. In the thoracic involvement of IgG4-RD, mediastinal lymphadenopathy and perilymphangitic interstitial thickening of the lung are the most common findings. Peribronchovascular and septal thickening and paravertebral band-like soft tissue are characteristic findings of IgG4-RD. Other findings include pulmonary nodules or masses, ground-glass opacity, alveolar interstitial thickening, pleural effusion or thickening, mass in the chest wall or mediastinum, and arteritis involving the aorta and coronary artery. Radiologic differential diagnosis of various malignancies, infections, and inflammatory conditions is needed. In this review, we describe the imaging findings of IgG4-RD and the radiologic differential diagnoses in the thorax.

IgG4 related lung disease- a rare and novel mimic of malignancy and infections-a case series of three patients with a brief review of updated literature

IgG4-related lung disease is an extremely rare and novel entity which is still poorly understood. We reviewed the 16 patients diagnosed with IgG4-related disease from October 2014 through December 2019 at our institution. The three cases that showed pulmonary involvement are included in this series. Of these, two patients had cavitary lung disease and developed aspergilloma and chronic cavitating aspergillosis after a prolonged course of steroid therapy, and one had isolated pulmonary nodule and ground glass opacity. We reviewed the updated literature and briefly described disease epidemiology, clinical characteristics, diagnostic approaches, and management strategies for IgG4-related lung disease.

Pleural effusion related to IgG4

Purpose of review

The causes of exudative pleural effusions are diverse and frequently remain unclear despite exhaustive examinations. Recently recognized IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a fibroinflammatory disorder that can affect nearly any organ including the lungs. This review will focus on the involvement of IgG4 in exudative pleural effusion of unknown cause.

Recent findings

IgG4 is found to be involved in a proportion of patients with undiagnosed pleural effusions. Pleural involvement in IgG4-RD can be seen in isolation or association with other organ disease. Pleural thickening and/or effusion are common clinical features of IgG4-related pleural lesions, and this condition is histologically characterized by a lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate enriched in IgG4-positive plasma cells in the pleura. Although the pathogenesis of IgG4-RD is poorly understood, there is a growing body of evidence that indicates an antigen-driven process requiring T-cell and B-cell interaction in which autoantibodies, plasmablasts, follicular helper T cells and CD4+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes participate.

Summary

The possibility of IgG4-related pleural lesion should be considered in patients with pleural effusion of unexplained cause when lymphoplasmacytic infiltration is seen in a pleural biopsy specimen. This condition is responsive to systemic steroid therapy.

Thoracic involvement in IgG4-related disease in a UK-based patient cohort

IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a multi-system fibro-inflammatory disorder with classical histopathological findings, often in the context of elevated serum IgG4 levels. The thoracic manifestations of IgG4-RD are numerous and can mimic several common and better known conditions. The objective of this study was to outline the frequency and nature of thoracic involvement in a prospective cohort of IgG4-RD patients who met defined diagnostic criteria. Over 40% of IgG4-RD patients had clinicoradiological and/or histological evidence of thoracic involvement, predominantly mediastinal lymphadenopathy, the majority associated with multi-system disease outside the chest. Thoracic involvement was associated with a higher serum IgG4 level, potentially representing greater disease activity or spread. Our data highlight the diverse nature of thoracic IgG4-RD, and the importance of knowledge and recognition of the condition among respiratory physicians who are likely to encounter this disease entity on an increasing basis.