Respiratory involvement in IgG4-related Mikulicz's disease

Mod Rheumatol. 2012 Feb;22(1):31-9. doi: 10.1007/s10165-011-0504-x. Epub 2011 Aug 3.

Abstract

'Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related disease' is a new clinical concept of multi-organ diseases, with Mikulicz's disease (MD) being a clinical phenotype of IgG4-related disease. To clarify the clinical characteristics of respiratory involvement associated with IgG4-related MD, we retrospectively assessed 25 patients with MD, 11 (44%) of whom had allergic symptoms, and 7 (28%) of whom complained of respiratory problems. Thirteen patients (52%) presented with pulmonary and/or mediastinal lesions (P-MD) on chest computed tomography (CT), and 11 (44%) had lesions limited to the lacrimal and/or salivary glands (L-MD). Mean serum total protein, IgG, and IgG4 concentrations were significantly higher and CH50 was significantly lower in the P-MD than in the L-MD group. Immune complex was present only in the P-MD group. Chest CT images showed bronchial wall thickening, consolidation, nodule(s), interlobular thickening, ground glass opacity, pleural thickening/effusion, and mediastinal lymphadenopathy. Five of seven patients who underwent histological examination of the lungs had abundant IgG4-positive plasma cell infiltrates (IgG4/IgG-positive plasma cells >40%), but the other two did not. These findings suggest that respiratory lesions are not rare in patients with IgG4-related MD, and that they present with various manifestations. IgG4-related MD should be differentiated from similar diseases, such as sarcoidosis, bronchial asthma, Sjögren's syndrome, and malignant lymphoma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Asthma / diagnosis
  • Autoimmune Diseases / complications
  • Autoimmune Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Autoimmune Diseases / immunology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood*
  • Lacrimal Apparatus / immunology
  • Lacrimal Apparatus / pathology
  • Lung / immunology
  • Lung / pathology*
  • Lung Diseases / complications
  • Lung Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Lung Diseases / immunology
  • Lymphoma / diagnosis
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mikulicz' Disease / complications
  • Mikulicz' Disease / diagnosis*
  • Mikulicz' Disease / immunology
  • Organ Specificity
  • Pancreatitis / complications
  • Pancreatitis / diagnosis
  • Pancreatitis / immunology
  • Plasma Cells / immunology
  • Plasma Cells / pathology*
  • Radiography, Thoracic
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Salivary Glands / immunology
  • Salivary Glands / pathology
  • Sarcoidosis / diagnosis
  • Sjogren's Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Immunoglobulin G