Clinical and laboratory characteristics of IgG4-realated disease and its diagnostic algorithm

Abstract

Aim: to propose diagnostic algorithm of IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD). Materials and methods. One center retrospective research. 52 pts with IgG4-RD were included. The diagnosis was proved histologically and immunohistochemically. 48 out of 52 pts received treatment. Treatment included one of the following schemes (along with low oral glucocorticoids): rituximab monotherapy, cyclophosphamide monotherapy or their combination. Results. The mean age was 47.4±5.9 years, the mean age of the disease onset was 43.9±16.0 years. Median time before the diagnosis was 24 months. The most often sites of IgG4-RD were lacrimal (63.5%), salivary (46.2%) glands, lungs (48%), lymph nodes (34.6%) and retroperitoneum (17.3%). In clinical picture the leading complain was organ enlargement, but not its dysfunction. Pain was characteristic for retroperitoneum localization. In 56.8% of pts with IgG4-related syalo - and/or dacryoadenitis there was association with ear - nose - throat organs affection. In 4 pts (7.7%) IgG4-RD was combined with some malignant disease, including MALT-lymphoma of lacrimal glands. Irreversible organ damage as an IgG4-RD outcome had 15.4% of pts. The main laboratory markers of IgG4-RD were ESR elevation (38.5%), blood eosinophilia (9.6%), immunological disturbances (serum total IgG and IgG4 elevation, IgE elevation, antinuclear antibodies, rheumatoid factor detection, hypocomplementemia). Serum IgG4 level >1.35 g/l was elevated in 88% of pts and correlated with the number of affected organs (Spearman correlation coefficient 0.39, Student’s test, р=0.0056). Monoclonal serum secretion and B-cell clonality in the tissue was detected in 4 (23.5%) out of 17 pts, but not all of them had both signs. Conclusion. Based on the analysis of clinical and laboratory characteristics of IgG4-RD a diagnostic algorithm was proposed that enhances the detection and examination of the patients with suspected IgG4-RD.