Some histopathological aspects of the disease related to IgG-4

Abstract The IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a recurrent chronic fibroinflammatory disease, probably of autoimmune origin, recently recognised. Its diagnosis is based on a combination of clinical, radiological, serological, histopathological and immunohistochemical data. However, the histopathology is considered as the golden “standard” for diagnosis. In most of the cases, the sum of lymphoplasmacytic inflammatory infiltrate with abundant IgG4+ plasma cells, storiform fibrosis and obliterative phlebitis makes a reliable diagnosis. Patients usually show elevated serum IgG4 concentrations and respond well to steroid therapy. Nowadays, IgG4-RD has been described in almost every organ: pancreatobiliary tract, liver, salivary glands, nasopharynx, bone marrow, lacrimal gland, extra-ocular muscles and retrobulbar space, kidney, lung, lymph nodes, meninges, aorta, skin, breast, prostate, thyroid gland and pericardium.