TY - JOUR
T1 - Immunoglobulin G4-Associated Cholangitis
T2 - Clinical Profile and Response to Therapy
AU - Ghazale, Amaar
AU - Chari, Suresh T.
AU - Zhang, Lizhi
AU - Smyrk, Thomas C.
AU - Takahashi, Naoki
AU - Levy, Michael J.
AU - Topazian, Mark D.
AU - Clain, Jonathan E.
AU - Pearson, Randall K.
AU - Petersen, Bret T.
AU - Vege, Santhi Swaroop
AU - Lindor, Keith
AU - Farnell, Michael B.
PY - 2008/3
Y1 - 2008/3
N2 - Background & Aims: Immunoglobulin (Ig)G4-associated cholangitis (IAC) is the biliary manifestation of a steroid-responsive multisystem fibroinflammatory disorder in which affected organs have a characteristic lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate rich in IgG4-positive cells. We describe clinical features, treatment response, and predictors of relapse in IAC and compare relapse rates in IAC with intrapancreatic vs proximal bile duct strictures. Methods: We reviewed clinical, serologic, and imaging characteristics and treatment response in 53 IAC patients. Results: IAC patients generally were older (mean age, 62 y) men (85%), presenting with obstructive jaundice (77%) associated with autoimmune pancreatitis (92%), increased serum IgG4 levels (74%), and abundant IgG4-positive cells in bile duct biopsy specimens (88%). At presentation, biliary strictures were confined to the intrapancreatic bile duct in 51%; the proximal extrahepatic/intrahepatic ducts were involved in 49%. Initial presentation was treated with steroids (n = 30; median follow-up period, 29.5 months), surgical resection (n = 18; median follow-up period, 58 months), or was conservative (n = 5; median follow-up period, 35 months). Relapses occurred in 53% after steroid withdrawal; 44% relapsed after surgery and were treated with steroids. The presence of proximal extrahepatic/intrahepatic strictures was predictive of relapse. Steroid therapy normalized liver enzyme levels in 61%; biliary stents could be removed in 17 of 18 patients. Fifteen patients treated with steroids for relapse after steroid withdrawal responded; 7 patients on additional immunomodulatory drugs remain in steroid-free remission (median follow-up period, 6 months). Conclusions: IAC should be suspected in unexplained biliary strictures associated with increased serum IgG4 and unexplained pancreatic disease. Relapses are common after steroid withdrawal, especially with proximal strictures. The role of immunomodulatory drugs for relapses needs further study.
AB - Background & Aims: Immunoglobulin (Ig)G4-associated cholangitis (IAC) is the biliary manifestation of a steroid-responsive multisystem fibroinflammatory disorder in which affected organs have a characteristic lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate rich in IgG4-positive cells. We describe clinical features, treatment response, and predictors of relapse in IAC and compare relapse rates in IAC with intrapancreatic vs proximal bile duct strictures. Methods: We reviewed clinical, serologic, and imaging characteristics and treatment response in 53 IAC patients. Results: IAC patients generally were older (mean age, 62 y) men (85%), presenting with obstructive jaundice (77%) associated with autoimmune pancreatitis (92%), increased serum IgG4 levels (74%), and abundant IgG4-positive cells in bile duct biopsy specimens (88%). At presentation, biliary strictures were confined to the intrapancreatic bile duct in 51%; the proximal extrahepatic/intrahepatic ducts were involved in 49%. Initial presentation was treated with steroids (n = 30; median follow-up period, 29.5 months), surgical resection (n = 18; median follow-up period, 58 months), or was conservative (n = 5; median follow-up period, 35 months). Relapses occurred in 53% after steroid withdrawal; 44% relapsed after surgery and were treated with steroids. The presence of proximal extrahepatic/intrahepatic strictures was predictive of relapse. Steroid therapy normalized liver enzyme levels in 61%; biliary stents could be removed in 17 of 18 patients. Fifteen patients treated with steroids for relapse after steroid withdrawal responded; 7 patients on additional immunomodulatory drugs remain in steroid-free remission (median follow-up period, 6 months). Conclusions: IAC should be suspected in unexplained biliary strictures associated with increased serum IgG4 and unexplained pancreatic disease. Relapses are common after steroid withdrawal, especially with proximal strictures. The role of immunomodulatory drugs for relapses needs further study.
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U2 - 10.1053/j.gastro.2007.12.009
DO - 10.1053/j.gastro.2007.12.009
M3 - Article
C2 - 18222442
AN - SCOPUS:38649091144
SN - 0016-5085
VL - 134
SP - 706
EP - 715
JO - Gastroenterology
JF - Gastroenterology
IS - 3
ER -