{"title":"A clinicopathological study of IgG4-related autoimmune hepatitis and IgG4-hepatopathy.","authors":"Atsushi Tanaka, Kenji Notohara, Maki Tobari, Masanori Abe, Takeji Umemura, Atsushi Takahashi, Akemi Tsutsui, Takanori Ito, Kohichi Tsuneyama, Atsushi Masamune, Ken-Ichi Harada, Hiromasa Ohira, Mitsuhiro Kawano","doi":"10.1007/s00535-025-02221-3","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and aim: </strong>Although IgG4-related autoimmune hepatitis (IgG4-AIH) and IgG4-hepatopathy have been proposed as hepatic phenotypes of IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD), their definitions and concepts remain insufficiently established. This study aims to conduct a clinicopathological investigation of cases reported as potential IgG4-AIH or IgG4-hepatopathy.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In previous nationwide epidemiological studies conducted in 2015 and 2018, we registered 1096 cases of IgG4-sclerosing cholangitis (IgG4-SC). Among these, 19 cases were identified as potential IgG4-AIH by the attending physicians, and other 20 cases as potential IgG4-hepatopathy with available liver histology were further evaluated using immunohistochemistry to assess the possibility of IgG4-AIH or IgG4-hepatopathy. For this purpose, we provisionally established diagnostic criteria for IgG4-AIH and IgG4-hepatopathy, primarily based on the comprehensive diagnostic criteria for IgG4-RD, which include IgG4 + cell count > 10/HPF and an IgG4 + /IgG ratio > 40%.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 19 cases, 2 were diagnosed as IgG4-AIH, with IgG4 + cell counts/HPF of 25.3 and 18.7, and IgG4 + /IgG ratios of 310.2% and 53.4%, respectively. Neither storiform fibrosis nor obliterative phlebitis was observed in the liver of these cases, and both responded excellently to corticosteroid treatment. In addition, from other 20 cases, we diagnosed 8 cases as IgG4-hepatopathy, with IgG4-SC and autoimmune pancreatitis being present in 7 and 2 cases, respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study identified two cases of IgG4-AIH and eight cases of IgG4-hepatopathy. Further studies are necessary to explore the occurrence of IgG4-AIH using these diagnostic criteria in the AIH cohort. The presence of IgG4-hepatopathy may facilitate the diagnosis of IgG4-SC.</p>","PeriodicalId":16059,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Gastroenterology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.9000,"publicationDate":"2025-02-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Gastroenterology","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00535-025-02221-3","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"GASTROENTEROLOGY & HEPATOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background and aim: Although IgG4-related autoimmune hepatitis (IgG4-AIH) and IgG4-hepatopathy have been proposed as hepatic phenotypes of IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD), their definitions and concepts remain insufficiently established. This study aims to conduct a clinicopathological investigation of cases reported as potential IgG4-AIH or IgG4-hepatopathy.
Methods: In previous nationwide epidemiological studies conducted in 2015 and 2018, we registered 1096 cases of IgG4-sclerosing cholangitis (IgG4-SC). Among these, 19 cases were identified as potential IgG4-AIH by the attending physicians, and other 20 cases as potential IgG4-hepatopathy with available liver histology were further evaluated using immunohistochemistry to assess the possibility of IgG4-AIH or IgG4-hepatopathy. For this purpose, we provisionally established diagnostic criteria for IgG4-AIH and IgG4-hepatopathy, primarily based on the comprehensive diagnostic criteria for IgG4-RD, which include IgG4 + cell count > 10/HPF and an IgG4 + /IgG ratio > 40%.
Results: Of the 19 cases, 2 were diagnosed as IgG4-AIH, with IgG4 + cell counts/HPF of 25.3 and 18.7, and IgG4 + /IgG ratios of 310.2% and 53.4%, respectively. Neither storiform fibrosis nor obliterative phlebitis was observed in the liver of these cases, and both responded excellently to corticosteroid treatment. In addition, from other 20 cases, we diagnosed 8 cases as IgG4-hepatopathy, with IgG4-SC and autoimmune pancreatitis being present in 7 and 2 cases, respectively.
Conclusion: This study identified two cases of IgG4-AIH and eight cases of IgG4-hepatopathy. Further studies are necessary to explore the occurrence of IgG4-AIH using these diagnostic criteria in the AIH cohort. The presence of IgG4-hepatopathy may facilitate the diagnosis of IgG4-SC.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Gastroenterology, which is the official publication of the Japanese Society of Gastroenterology, publishes Original Articles (Alimentary Tract/Liver, Pancreas, and Biliary Tract), Review Articles, Letters to the Editors and other articles on all aspects of the field of gastroenterology. Significant contributions relating to basic research, theory, and practice are welcomed. These publications are designed to disseminate knowledge in this field to a worldwide audience, and accordingly, its editorial board has an international membership.