Immunoglobulin G4-Related Disease Manifesting as Isolated, Typical, and Nontypical Gastroesophageal Lesion: A Research of Literature Review

Digestion. 2020;101(5):506-521. doi: 10.1159/000501513. Epub 2019 Jul 10.

Abstract

Background: Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is an autoimmune inflammatory and fibrotic condition. The disease is characterized by tissue infiltration with dense lymphoplasmacytes and IgG4-positive plasma cells.

Summary: The aim of this study was to provide gastroenterologists with novel insights into evaluating the gastroesophageal involvement with IgG4-RD or mimickers of this condition and to give special attention to clinicopathological features. A literature review was performed using the PubMed database. A total of 39 studies presenting cases in the form of isolated, typical, and nontypical gastroesophageal involvement with IgG4-RD published between 2010 and 2018 were included. These studies were thoroughly reviewed for symptoms, lesion location, lesion type, lesion size, immune-histopathology, associated diseases, treatment, and follow-up. Of the 39 studies reviewed, 9 were esophageal IgG4-RD lesions, isolated esophageal IgG4-RD 66.66% (6/9), a typical form of esophageal IgG4-RD 11.11% (1/9), and nontypical form esophageal IgG4-RD 22.22% (2/9). The 30 gastric IgG4-RD that include isolated gastric IgG4-RD 46.66% (14/30), typical gastric IgG4-RD 40% (12/30), and nontypical gastric IgG4-RD 13.33% (4/30). The majority of lesions were inflammatory tumors, ulceration, nodular lesions, chronic gastritis, and malignant lesions. Key Messages: IgG4-RD may be manifested by isolated, typical and nontypical forms of gastroesophageal lesions and should be taken into consideration in the differential diagnosis. Corticosteroids may be the sole diagnostic treatment for this condition.

Keywords: Esophageal immunoglobulin G4-related disease; Gastric immunoglobulin G4-related disease; Isolated lesions; Nontypical lesions; Typical lesions.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Esophageal Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Esophageal Diseases / drug therapy
  • Esophageal Diseases / immunology
  • Esophageal Diseases / pathology
  • Esophageal Mucosa / cytology
  • Esophageal Mucosa / immunology
  • Esophageal Mucosa / pathology
  • Gastric Mucosa / cytology
  • Gastric Mucosa / immunology
  • Gastric Mucosa / pathology
  • Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / metabolism
  • Immunoglobulin G4-Related Disease / diagnosis*
  • Immunoglobulin G4-Related Disease / drug therapy
  • Immunoglobulin G4-Related Disease / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin G4-Related Disease / pathology
  • Lymphocyte Count
  • Plasma Cells / immunology*
  • Plasma Cells / metabolism
  • Stomach Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Stomach Diseases / drug therapy
  • Stomach Diseases / immunology
  • Stomach Diseases / pathology

Substances

  • Glucocorticoids
  • Immunoglobulin G