C Campochiaro1,2, G A Ramirez1,2, E P Bozzolo2, M Lanzillotta1, A Berti1,2, E Baldissera2, L Dagna1,2, L Praderio2, R Scotti2, M Tresoldi2, L Roveri3, A Mariani4, G Balzano5, R Castoldi5, C Doglioni5, M G Sabbadini1,2, E Della-Torre1,2. 1. a Unit of Medicine and Clinical Immunology , IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute , Milan , Italy. 2. b Department of Neurology , IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute , Milan , Italy. 3. c Division of Gastroenterology and Gastrointestinal Endoscopy , IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute , Milan , Italy. 4. d Pancreas Unit, Department of Surgery , IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute , Milan , Italy. 5. e Pathology Unit , IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute , Milan , Italy.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To describe the clinical features, treatment response, and follow-up of a large cohort of Italian patients with immunoglobulin (Ig)G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) referred to a single tertiary care centre. METHOD: Clinical, laboratory, histological, and imaging features were retrospectively reviewed. IgG4-RD was classified as 'definite' or 'possible' according to international consensus guidelines and comprehensive diagnostic criteria for IgG4-RD. Disease activity was assessed by means of the IgG4-RD Responder Index (IgG4-RD RI). RESULTS: Forty-one patients (15 females, 26 males) were included in this study: 26 with 'definite' IgG4-RD and 15 with 'possible' IgG4-RD. The median age at diagnosis was 62 years. The median follow-up was 36 months (IQR 24-51). A history of atopy was present in 30% of patients. The pancreas, retroperitoneum, and major salivary glands were the most frequently involved organs. Serum IgG4 levels were elevated in 68% of cases. Thirty-six patients were initially treated with glucocorticoids (GCs) to induce remission. IgG4-RD RI decreased from a median of 7.8 at baseline to 2.9 after 1 month of therapy. Relapse occurred in 19/41 patients (46%) and required additional immunosuppressive drugs to maintain long-term remission. Multiple flares occurred in a minority of patients. A single case of orbital pseudotumour did not respond to medical therapy and underwent surgical debulking. CONCLUSIONS: IgG4-RD is an elusive inflammatory disease to be considered in the differential diagnosis of isolated or multiple tumefactive lesions. Long-term disease control can be achieved with corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs in the majority of cases.
OBJECTIVES: To describe the clinical features, treatment response, and follow-up of a large cohort of Italian patients with immunoglobulin (Ig)G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) referred to a single tertiary care centre. METHOD: Clinical, laboratory, histological, and imaging features were retrospectively reviewed. IgG4-RD was classified as 'definite' or 'possible' according to international consensus guidelines and comprehensive diagnostic criteria for IgG4-RD. Disease activity was assessed by means of the IgG4-RD Responder Index (IgG4-RD RI). RESULTS: Forty-one patients (15 females, 26 males) were included in this study: 26 with 'definite' IgG4-RD and 15 with 'possible' IgG4-RD. The median age at diagnosis was 62 years. The median follow-up was 36 months (IQR 24-51). A history of atopy was present in 30% of patients. The pancreas, retroperitoneum, and major salivary glands were the most frequently involved organs. Serum IgG4 levels were elevated in 68% of cases. Thirty-six patients were initially treated with glucocorticoids (GCs) to induce remission. IgG4-RD RI decreased from a median of 7.8 at baseline to 2.9 after 1 month of therapy. Relapse occurred in 19/41 patients (46%) and required additional immunosuppressive drugs to maintain long-term remission. Multiple flares occurred in a minority of patients. A single case of orbital pseudotumour did not respond to medical therapy and underwent surgical debulking. CONCLUSIONS: IgG4-RD is an elusive inflammatory disease to be considered in the differential diagnosis of isolated or multiple tumefactive lesions. Long-term disease control can be achieved with corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs in the majority of cases.
Authors: J-Matthias Löhr; Ulrich Beuers; Miroslav Vujasinovic; Domenico Alvaro; Jens Brøndum Frøkjær; Frank Buttgereit; Gabriele Capurso; Emma L Culver; Enrique de-Madaria; Emanuel Della-Torre; Sönke Detlefsen; Enrique Dominguez-Muñoz; Piotr Czubkowski; Nils Ewald; Luca Frulloni; Natalya Gubergrits; Deniz Guney Duman; Thilo Hackert; Julio Iglesias-Garcia; Nikolaos Kartalis; Andrea Laghi; Frank Lammert; Fredrik Lindgren; Alexey Okhlobystin; Grzegorz Oracz; Andrea Parniczky; Raffaella Maria Pozzi Mucelli; Vinciane Rebours; Jonas Rosendahl; Nicolas Schleinitz; Alexander Schneider; Eric Fh van Bommel; Caroline Sophie Verbeke; Marie Pierre Vullierme; Heiko Witt Journal: United European Gastroenterol J Date: 2020-06-18 Impact factor: 4.623