Clinical features and symptoms of IgG4-related ophthalmic disease: a multicenter study

The aim of this study was to elucidate the clinical features and symptoms of IgG4-related ophthalmic disease (IgG4-ROD).

Retrospective, multicenter study.

The medical charts of 378 patients with IgG4-ROD diagnosed at 9 hospitals in Japan were reviewed. The demographic profiles, clinical findings, and ocular symptoms of the patients were analyzed.

On the basis of the diagnostic criteria for IgG4-ROD, the diagnosis was definite in 261 patients (69%), probable in 45 patients (12%), and possible in 72 patients (19%). The patients' mean age at the time of diagnosis was 60.6 ± 13.9 years; 195 (52%) were male. The mean IgG4 serum level at the time of the initial diagnosis was 578.9 mg/dL. Imaging studies showed pathologic lesions as follows: lesions in the lacrimal glands (86%), extraocular muscles (21%), trigeminal nerve (20%), and eyelids (12%); isolated orbital mass (11%); diffuse orbital lesion (8%); lesion in the perioptic nerve (8%); and lesion in the sclera (1%). The ophthalmic symptoms included dry eye (22%), diplopia (20%), decreased vision (8%), and visual field defects (5%). IgG4-ROD with extraocular lesions was observed in 182 patients (48%).

Although the lacrimal glands are well known to be the major pathologic site of IgG4-ROD, various ocular tissues can be affected and cause ophthalmic symptoms including visual loss.