IgG4-related disease (IgG4 - RD) and autoimmune pancreatitis

Last edited 06/2020

Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related systemic disease (IgG4-RSD) is a systemic entity associated with autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP)

  • AIP is a distinct type of chronic pancreatitis and is characterized by abundant infiltration of Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-positive plasma cells and associated fibrosis that lead to organ dysfunction
    • there are three recognized patterns of AIP
      • diffuse, focal, and multifocal
    • patients with AIP typically present with jaundice or abdominal discomfort, severe abdominal pain, or acute pancreatitis

  • other organ involvements take the form of sclerosing cholangitis, sclerosing cholecystitis, sclerosing sialadenitis, retroperitoneal fibrosis, and interstitial nephritis

  • lung diseases related to IgG4 have been described to occur with or without other organ involvement
    • these diseases include interstitial lung disease (ILD), pulmonary inflammatory pseudotumor, and lymphomatoid granulomatosis

Reference:

  • Stone JH, Zen Y, Deshpande V. IgG4-related disease. N Engl J Med. 2012;366:539-51.
  • Khosroshahi A, Stone JH. A clinical overview of IgG4-related systemic disease. Curr Opin Rheumatol. 2011;23:57-66.