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Background: Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is an uncommon chronic systemic autoimmune disease, pathologically characterized by lymphoplasma cell and IgG4 plasma cell infiltration with storiform fibrosis. IgG4-RD is a new disease and is not yet widely recognized. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical manifestations and outcomes in Thai patients with IgG4-RD., Methods: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included patients aged ≥ 18 years who were diagnosed with IgG4-RD, according to the 2011 comprehensive or consensus diagnostic criteria, between 2000 and 2019 in four academic centers in Thailand. Baseline characteristics, laboratory and pathologic findings, treatments, and outcomes were systematically reviewed., Results: The study included 110 patients (71% male) with a mean age (SD) of 59.6 (13.3) years and median disease duration (interquartile range [IQR]) of 28.8 (14.6-53.5) months. Single organ involvement was observed in 60 patients (54.5%). Most patients (96%) had an IgG4 level of more than 135 mg/dL at presentation. Also, most (92%) were treated with corticosteroid (CS) alone or in combination with immunosuppressive agents. The most commonly used immunosuppressive agents were azathioprine (47%) and methotrexate (11%). Additionally, 20% required surgery, and 6.4% underwent stent insertion. One-quarter (26%), 37%, and 29% were in remission with successfully tapering CS, complete and partial response. Nevertheless, 22% relapsed, with a median time to relapse (IQR) of 22.2 (12.8-41.1) months., Conclusion: IgG4-RD is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease with diverse manifestations, response to treatment, and outcomes. Most patients responded well to treatments but with a notable relapse rate., (© 2020 Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.)

Aim: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and safety of iguratimod plus corticosteroid as bridge therapy in the treatment of mild immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD)., Methods: Newly diagnosed IgG4-RD patients, without internal organ involvement were enrolled. Patients were given one dose of diprospan, intramuscular injection, and iguratimod, 25 mg, twice daily, for 24 weeks and were followed up at 0, 12 and 24 weeks. Follow-up indexes included IgG4-RD responder index (IgG4-RD RI), serology and imaging, plasma cytokines and adverse drug effect. Flow cytometry was performed for T, B cell subsets and plasma was collected for liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS)-based metabolomic profiling and data processing., Results: Thirty patients were enrolled. At week 24, 9 (30.0%) patients achieved complete response, 17 (56.7%) patients with partial response, and 4 (13.3%) patients had no response to treatment. IgG4-RD RI, serum IgG and IgG4 levels decreased significantly at weeks 12 and 24 after treatment, as well as CD3+ CD8+ T cells, plasmablast/plasma cells and memory B cells. The LC-MS based plasma metabolomic profiles revealed significant changes between untreated patients and healthy donors, which became much similar to normal states after treatment., Conclusion: Iguratimod plus corticosteroid as bridge therapy is effective for the treatment of mild IgG4-RD, it can improve the clinical symptoms, reduce serum IgG and IgG4 levels, especially plasmablasts/plasma cells and memory B cells. In addition, the metabolite profiling became similar to normal controls after treatment., (© 2019 The Authors International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases published by Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.)