IgG4-related disease and systemic vasculitis – is there any connection?
IgG4-related disease is a relatively new group of diseases of still unknown etiology. It is characterized by elevated serum levels of subclass IgG4 immunoglobulin and by abundant infiltration of IgG4+ plasma cells with typical fibrosis of the affected organs. Elevated concentration of IgG4 may be pr...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Termedia Publishing House
2014-11-01
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| Series: | Rheumatology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.termedia.pl/IgG4-related-disease-and-systemic-vasculitis-is-there-any-connection-,18,24059,1,1.html |
| Summary: | IgG4-related disease is a relatively new group of diseases of still unknown etiology. It is characterized by elevated serum levels of subclass IgG4 immunoglobulin and by abundant infiltration of IgG4+ plasma cells with typical fibrosis of the affected organs. Elevated concentration of IgG4 may be present in many other conditions associated with chronic inflammation. In recent years, it is noted that this may also apply to patients with systemic vasculitis, in particular antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis. The aim of this study is to draw attention to the fact that in some cases, both clinical presentation and histopathological findings in IgG4-related diseases and systemic vasculitis may be similar. The importance of elevated serum IgG4 immunoglobulin in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) is unclear and requires further research. |
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| ISSN: | 0034-6233 2084-9834 |