IgG4-related disease of pulmonary artery causing pulmonary hypertension

Medicine (Baltimore). 2018 May;97(20):e10698. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000010698.

Abstract

IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is recognized as an immune-mediated condition with pathology features of lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate, storiform fibrosis, and obliterative phlebitis, accompanied with or without elevated serum IgG4 concentrations. However, few of pulmonary artery IgG4-RD causing pulmonary hypertension (PH) was reported.The medical records of 3 patients with pulmonary artery IgG4-RD inducing PH were analyzed retrospectively.Imaging findings demonstrated that the lesions of 3 patients located in pulmonary artery, which were initially diagnosed as pulmonary thrombus or malignant tumor. Computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA), ultrasonic cardiogram, and positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) didn't support the diagnosis of pulmonary thrombus or malignant tumor. Right heart catheterization (RHC) showed definite PH. Biopsy by right heart catheterization in 2 patients or pneumonectomy in 1 patient confirmed the diagnosis as IgG4-RD. Treated with glucocorticoids and cyclophosphamide or rituximab, 2 patients' IgG4 concentrations declined sharply and the lesions shrunk gradually. Another patient treated with glucocorticoids died of heart failure.IgG4-RD involved pulmonary artery causing PH was rare. A high index of awareness of this disease is required for early diagnosis and treatment. PET/CT might be a valuable approach to distinguish pulmonary artery IgG4-RD from pulmonary thrombus and malignant tumor.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Autoimmune Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Autoimmune Diseases / drug therapy
  • Cardiac Catheterization / methods
  • Computed Tomography Angiography / methods
  • Cyclophosphamide / therapeutic use
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / diagnosis*
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / drug therapy
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / etiology
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography / methods
  • Pulmonary Artery / pathology*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Rituximab / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Glucocorticoids
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Rituximab
  • Cyclophosphamide