IgG4-related disease: a case report with duration of more than 16 years and review of literature

IgG4-related disease presenting with profound bilateral orbital and adnexal inflammation

Purpose

IgG4-related disease is an immune-mediated fibroinflammatory condition that can affect almost every major organ system. Orbital and adnexal involvement in IgG4-related disease though not uncommon can be varied depending on the site of the lymphoplasmacytic infiltration. This case of profound bilateral orbital inflammation is presented to demonstrate the significant clinical manifestations of IgG4-related ophthalmic disease.

Observations

A 52-year-old man with a remote and seemingly unrelated history of lymphadenopathy presented to the Oculoplastics clinic with massive bilateral upper and lower lid swelling and induration. Hematologic testing demonstrated an elevation in serum IgG4 - a non-specific finding seen in various infectious, inflammatory, and malignant processes. Imaging demonstrated diffuse enlargement of orbital structures, including the lacrimal glands and extraocular muscles, as well as inflammatory changes of the adnexal and retrobulbar soft tissue. Orbital biopsy was required to confirm the diagnosis of IgG4-related ophthalmic disease.

Conclusions and Importance

IgG4-related ophthalmic disease presents with various non-specific clinical signs and symptoms. The most common presentations include dacryoadenitis, enlarged orbital nerves, and orbital fat involvement; however, the extent of involvement both locally and systemically varies greatly. Clinical findings and imaging are helpful in narrowing the differential diagnosis; however, biopsy for histopathologic examination is essential to confirm IgG4-related disease. Physicians must maintain a high level of suspicion for the disease for proper management.

Immunoglobulin G4-related periodontitis: case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a chronic inflammatory systemic disease of unknown etiology that can affect one or multiple organs. The disease can mimic many infectious and inflammatory diseases, mainly causing organ enlargement or hyperplasia. Its diagnosis primarily relies on clinical, serologic, and histological features (lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates, storiform fibrosis, and obliterative phlebitis of IgG4 + plasma cells). Here, we report a rare case of IgG4-related periodontitis, and review the relevant literatures.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 38-year-old Chinese man visited the Department of Periodontics with gingival enlargement, loose teeth, and tooth loss. The patient had very poor oral hygiene and a large amount of calculus. Gingivae were edematous with deep periodontal pockets and attachment loss. Panoramic radiography showed alveolar bone loss. Serologic examination showed that IgG was 23.70 g/L and IgG4 concentration was 2.800 g/L. There was significant lymphoplasmacytic infiltration, a storiform pattern of fibrosis, and mitotic figures with hematoxylin and eosin staining; immunohistochemical staining showed 10 scattered IgG4-positive plasma cells in a high-power field. The patient was diagnosed as IgG4-related periodontitis. He received a course of corticosteroids with periodontal therapy, and the enlargement was significantly improved without recurrence.

CONCLUSION

IgG4-RD in the oral and maxillofacial region mainly involves salivary glands, but this rare case was characterized by enlarged gingivae. The differential diagnosis of IgG4-RD should be based on the clinical features and serologic (IgG4) and histopathological examinations. Corticosteroid therapy is effective for most IgG4-RD patients. Taken together, we hope this case report and the literature review can help dentists to improve their understanding of the IgG4-RD.

Longstanding IgG4-related Ophthalmic Disease Dramatically Improved after Steroid Therapy

A 61-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of decreased visual acuity. On admission, he had marked blepharoedema, conjunctival injection, exophthalmos, diplopia, and blurred vision. He also had bronchial asthma and urinary retention requiring urethral catheterization. His serum immunoglobulin (Ig) G4 level was elevated to 1,830 U/mL. Fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography revealed an abnormal uptake in multiple organs. A histopathological examination of the salivary gland revealed IgG4-positive plasma cell infiltration, leading to a diagnosis of IgG4-related ophthalmic disease. After initiating steroid therapy, his longstanding ophthalmic, respiratory, and urinary symptoms dramatically improved. In IgG4-related disease, steroid therapy should be considered even if patients have longstanding symptoms.

The variety of clinical presentations in IgG4-related disease in Rheumatology

IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) belongs to the group of rare diseases in which the identification of the characteristic histology and immunohistochemistry provides with the gold standard in the diagnosis. The variable organ dysfunction reflects the clinical presentation. The examples of different IgG4-RD presentations in the Rheumatology Unit were discussed in this article. The spectrum of IgG4-RD is wide-ranging and manifested in one or more organs synchronously or metachronously. In the presented article, we described five different cases of IgG4-RD. Four cases were reaffirmed in the histopathological assessment. The clinical and laboratory findings were analyzed and the assigned therapy was discussed. According to our experience, the diagnosis of IgG4-RD requires the careful clinicopathological correlation. The diagnosis relies on the coexistence of various clinical, laboratory, radiological, and histopathological findings, although none of them is pathognomonic itself. The time needed for the diagnosis and variety of clinical forms of IgG4-RD shows that there is need of the cooperation among many specialists for the better and earlier recognition of the disease.