IgG4-related pleural disease in a patient with a history of unknown origin acute pancreatitis: a case report and review of the literature

ABSTRACT

Immunoglobulin G4-related disease is a rare autoimmune systemic disease with the capability of involving every organ. The disease is microscopically defined by a diffuse tissular inflammation with an infiltration of IgG4 positive plasma cells in the affected organs. IgG4 disease has an increasing incidence in the last few years with a growing interest in its pathophysiology still misunderstood to date. Despite the growing recognition of this pathology, the literature still does not allow to propose a simple diagnostic algorithm. In this article, we present a case of a 56-year-old man with a history of unknown etiology acute pancreatitis and a unilateral pleural effusion.

KEYWORDS:

• IgG4
• pleural disease
• pancreatitis
• auto-immunity
• pleuritis

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No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

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Funding

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