IgG4-Related Lung Disease Exhibiting the Invasion into the Diaphragm: A Case Report

A Review on The Role of Environmental Exposures in IgG4-Related Diseases

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Immunoglobulin G4-related diseases (IgG4-RDs) are immune-mediated fibroinflammatory multisystemic conditions identified by the presence of tumefactive lesions with a rich infiltrate of IgG4-positive plasma cells, and often by a high IgG4 serum concentration. IgG-RDs have a prevalence of at least 1 case every 100,000 persons, and they are mostly diagnosed after age 50, with a male to female ratio of about 3:1. IgG4-RD pathophysiology is still uncertain: it has been proposed that both genetic predisposition and chronic environmental exposures may play a role by triggering abnormal immune activation that perpetuates the disease. The purpose of this review is to summarize the evidences supporting the hypothesis that certain environmental/occupational exposures can trigger IgG4-RDs, focusing on the possible role of asbestos in an emerging IgG4-RD called idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis (IRF).

RECENT FINDINGS

Although some studies suggested a relationship between tobacco smoking and IgG4-RD risk, occupational exposures seem to have the most interesting effects. Positive history of blue-collar work increases the risk of developing an IgG4-RD, and mineral dusts and asbestos were the most strongly associated industrial compounds. Asbestos has been found to be a risk factor for IRF years before its classification as IgG4-RD, and later in two large case-control studies. In the most recent one, conducted on 90 patients and 270 controls, asbestos exposure conferred an increased IRF risk, quantified by odds ratios from 2.46 to 7.07. Further structured studies including serum IgG4 evaluation should be conducted to clarify the effect of asbestos on patients with confirmed diagnosis of IgG4-related IRF. Environmental exposures, especially of occupational origin, appear to play a role in the development of different types of IgG-RDs. In particular, although first suggested very recently, the relationship between asbestos and IRF deserves to be explored in more structured studies, especially because of the biological plausibility of the role of asbestos in IRF pathogenesis.

Surgical treatment for a patient with immunoglobulin G4-related lung disease

Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is an autoimmune fibroinflammatory disease, and isolated lung disease is a rare phenomenon. IgG4-RD frequently mimics primary pulmonary malignancy. It has been described in association with malignancies, including lung cancer, but it remains unclear if it increases the risk of malignancy. We report the case of a patient who had a left lower lobectomy after relapse while receiving corticotherapy. The pathological findings confirmed the diagnosis of IgG4-RD. After 2 months, the thoracic computerized tomography scan showed an important left pleural effusion that could be a consequence of the recent intervention or a relapse of IgG4-RD.