Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is an uncommon immune disorder that usually affects multiple tissues and organs with tumor-like masses and/or painless enlargement.
Symptoms depend on which organs are affected.
Most people with IgG4-RD are middle-aged to older men, but the disorder can affect people of any age and sex.
The exact cause of IgG4-RD is unknown, but it likely involves a problem with the immune system.
IgG4-RD can damage organs before people notice symptoms and seek medical care.
Organ enlargement may cause concern about a cancer until the diagnosis is made.
Diagnosis generally requires biopsy.
Immunoglobulins are antibodies, which are proteins that are part of the body's immune system defenses. Immunoglobulins help protect against foreign or dangerous invaders, such as bacteria, viruses and cancer cells. The body produces thousands of different immunoglobulins, which are grouped into 5 classes (IgM, IgG, IgA, IgE, and IgD), some of which (eg, IgA and IgG) have subclasses.
IgG4 is the least common of the 4 subclasses of IgG. It has various normal functions in the body, but in IgG4-related disease, immune cells that produce IgG4, along with other related cells, accumulate abnormally in certain organs and damage them. The affected organs can enlarge and may eventually fill with scar tissue (fibrosis) and the damage can be permanent.
One or more organs are affected. Other organs and tissues can be affected, but the 11 organs considered typical of IgG4-RD include
Pancreas (organ that secretes digestive juices and hormones such as insulin)
Bile ducts (small tubes that carry bile, a fluid that aids in digestion)
Lacrimal (tear) glands
Orbital tissues (tissues surrounding the eye)
Salivary glands (glands that lie under the side of the jaw and behind the angle of the jaw)
Lungs
Kidneys
Retroperitoneal tissues (at the back of the abdomen)
Aorta (the main blood vessel bringing blood from the heart to the body)
Meninges (layers of tissue that cover the brain and spinal cord)
Thyroid gland (gland in the front of the neck that controls many body activities)
Symptoms of IgG4-Related Disease
Common symptoms of IgG4-RD include swollen lymph nodes and weight loss. Weight loss is particularly common when multiple organs are involved and/or when the pancreas does not make enough of the enzymes needed for digestion. IgG4-RD almost never causes a fever.
Other symptoms are specific to the affected organs:
Pancreas and bile ducts: IgG4-RD that affects the pancreas may cause jaundice (yellowing of the skin) if swelling of the pancreas blocks the flow of bile from the liver to the digestive tract. People may also develop acute pancreatitis, which causes abdominal pain and nausea. Some people develop chronic pancreatitis and have symptoms of pancreatic insufficiency (for example, gas, feeling full, diarrhea, undernutrition, weight loss, diabetes).
Retroperitoneal (abdominal) tissues: People with retroperitoneal tissues affected by IgG4-RD may not have symptoms, or they may have flank or back pain. Retroperitoneal fibrosis can compress the ureters (tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder) which blocks urine flow and increases pressure in the kidneys, which can damage them. Sometimes the walls of the aorta are affected, which can lead to an aortic aneurysm.
Salivary and lacrimal glands: These glands, if affected, usually cause painless, noticeable swelling on one or both sides of the face, below the chin, or over the outer portion of the upper eyelids. Dry mouth and/or eyes are uncommon.
Orbit: People with IgG4-RD affecting the orbits, particularly the muscles controlling the eyeballs, may develop bulging of the eyes (proptosis), swelling and pain around the eyes, or pain when moving the eyes.
Lungs: If IgG4-RD affects the lungs, people may not have symptoms or may have a cough, shortness of breath, or sharp pain when inhaling, often due to inflammation of the pleura (the two thin layers of tissue that separate the lungs from the chest wall).
Diagnosis of IgG4-Related Disease
Biopsy
Blood tests
Imaging
A biopsy is usually needed for doctors to distinguish IgG4-RD from other causes of enlarged organs and/or swollen lymph nodes.
Doctors usually do blood tests to measure levels of IgG4 and other immunoglobulins, but even though the disease involves IgG4 producing cells, IgG4 levels are not always elevated. And other diseases can cause elevated IgG4 levels. Other blood tests are done to see what organs may be affected and to help exclude other diseases.
Doctors will usually do a CT or MRI of areas where people have symptoms (for example, of orbits, chest, abdomen, and pelvis). They may also do imaging tests of other areas to look for organs that could be affected but are not causing symptoms.
Sometimes, urine and stool tests are helpful.
Treatment of IgG4-Related Disease
Corticosteroids
Sometimes, surgery
Treatment of IgG4-RD aims to reduce inflammation and stop the effects of the disorder.
Rituximab is nearly universally effective in treating active IgG4-RD.
Typically, organ function returns to normal after treatment. However, if a lot of scar tissue had already formed in an organ, function may not fully return to normal.
Some people require surgical procedures, such as stenting, to relieve blockages of the ureters (the tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder) or bile ducts.
