Korean Journal of Pancreas and Biliary Tract  2015;20(3):124-129

doi:10.15279/kpba.2015.20.3.124

Overview of the Immunoglobulin G4-related Disease Spectrum.

Sung Hoon MOON 1 ; Tae Jun SONG ; Myung Hwan KIM

Affiliations

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Keywords

Immunoglobulin G4-related disease; Autoimmune pancreatitis; Autoimmune diseases

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

English

Abstract

Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related disease is a newly named fibroinflammatory condition characterized by tumefactive lesions that contain dense lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates rich in IgG4-positive cells. Elevated serum IgG4 concentrations also often accompany IgG4-related disease. Many medical conditions that were long viewed as diseases confined to single organs (e.g., Mikulicz disease, type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis, Riedel's thyroiditis, multifocal fibrosclerosis, inflammatory pseudotumor, mediastinal fibrosis, retroperitoneal fibrosis, and etc.) are now designated as part of the spectrum of IgG4-related disease. The preferred nomenclature suggested by a committee of international experts uses the prefix "IgG4-related-" for individual organ involvement, regardless of the organ system affected. One exception is type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis (IgG4-related pancreatitis). Comprehensive diagnostic criteria for IgG4-related disease and organ-specific diagnostic criteria (e.g., IgG4-related dacryoadenitis and sialadenitis, type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis, IgG4-related kidney disease and IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis) can aid clinicians in the diagnosis of this erratic condition.