The impact of elevated serum IgG4 levels in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis

Maria Benito de Valle, Tobias Müller, Einar Björnsson, Morgane Otten, Martin Volkmann, Olaf Guckelberger, Bertram Wiedenmann, Riadh Sadik, Eckart Schott, Mats Andersson, Thomas Berg, Björn Lindkvist*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

31 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Elevated IgG4 levels have been reported among patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis. Epidemiological data has only been provided from tertiary centres. Aims: To investigate the prevalence of elevated IgG4 levels and to compare prognosis between patients with and without elevated IgG4 levels in serum in two European cohorts of patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis. Methods: Serum IgG4-levels were measured in a consecutive series of patients from Berlin, and retrospectively collected in a population-based cohort from Sweden (total N=. 345). Cox's proportional hazard analysis was used to calculate relative risks for liver-related death or liver transplantation and cholangiocarcinoma. Results: Elevated IgG4 values were demonstrated in 10% of patients. A previous history of pancreatitis, combined intra- and extrahepatic biliary involvement and jaundice were independently associated with elevated IgG4 in multivariate analysis. IgG4 status was not associated with an increased risk for the combined endpoint liver-related death or liver transplantation or cholangiocarcinoma. Conclusion: The prevalence of elevated IgG4 values among European patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis is similar to what previously has been reported from the United States. Elevated IgG4 was not associated with an increased risk of liver transplantation or liver-related death or cholangiocarcinoma.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)903-908
Number of pages6
JournalDigestive and Liver Disease
Volume46
Issue number10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2014 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l.

Other keywords

  • IgG4 status
  • Prevalence
  • Survival

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