Background: To elucidate the clinical characteristics of IgG4-related dacryoadenitis.
Methods: Clinical features, laboratory findings, radiological findings, associated diseases, treatment, and prognosis were prospectively examined in 12 patients (seven men, five women; mean age, 60.9 ± 15.1 years) with IgG4-related dacryoadenitis.
Results: In addition to eyelid swelling, other ophthalmologic symptoms were observed in seven patients, including diplopia (n = 4), ptosis (n = 2), visual field disturbance (n = 2), eye pain (n = 2), decrease of visual acuity (n = 2), eye-movement disturbance (n = 1), dry eye (n = 1), corneal ulcer (n = 1), and epiphora (n = 1). Swelling of the lacrimal glands was bilateral in half of the patients. Other IgG4-related diseases were present in nine patients, including sialadenitis (n = 5), autoimmune pancreatitis (n = 4), retroperitoneal fibrosis (n = 2), and lymphadenopathy (n = 8). Serum IgG4 levels were significantly higher in patients with other IgG4-related disease (1070 ± 813 mg/dl) than in those without (197 ± 59 mg/dl, p = 0.017). Allergic histories and elevated serum IgE levels were each detected in six patients. Eight patients showed inflammatory extension beyond the lacrimal gland, such as thickened rectus muscle (n = 6), inflammation of the optic nerve (n = 2), and retrobulbar inflammation (n = 3). Steroid therapy was effective in seven patients, but dacryoadenitis relapsed in two patients with markedly higher serum IgG4 levels and autoimmune pancreatitis.
Conclusions: IgG4-related dacryoadenitis showed various ophthalmologic symptoms due to extensive inflammation beyond the lacrimal gland, frequent association with other IgG4-related disease or allergic phenomena, and steroid responsiveness.