Diagnostic challenges of the idiopathic plasmacytic lymphadenopathy (IPL) subtype of idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease (iMCD): Factors to differentiate from IgG4-related disease.

AIMS AND METHODS: Idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease (iMCD) is currently considered to be classified into three clinical subtypes, including idiopathic plasmacytic lymphadenopathy (IPL), thrombocytopaenia, anasarca, fever, reticulin fibrosis/renal dysfunction, organomegaly (TAFRO) and not otherwise specified (NOS). Among the three, iMCD-IPL closely mimics IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD). In diagnosing IgG4-RD, it is sometimes challenging to distinguish iMCD-IPL patients that also meet the histological diagnostic criteria for IgG4-RD. In this study, we focused on the number of IgG4-positive cells in the lymph nodes and analysed the relationship with laboratory findings to distinguish iMCD-IPL from IgG4-RD. Thirty-nine patients with iMCD-IPL and 22 patients with IgG4-RD were included.

RESULTS: Among the cases considered to be iMCD-IPL, 33.3% (13/39) cases also met the histological diagnostic criteria for IgG4-RD and serum IgG4 levels were not different between the two groups. However, the serum IgG4/IgG ratio was significantly higher in IgG4-RD, with a cut-off value of 19.0%. Additionally, a significant positive correlation between serum IgG levels and the number of IgG4-positive cells was observed in iMCD-IPL (p=0.001). The serum IgG cut-off value for distinguishing iMCD-IPL meeting histological criteria for IgG4-RD from other iMCD-IPL was 5381 mg/dL.

CONCLUSIONS: iMCD-IPL cases with high serum IgG levels (>5000 mg/dL) were likely to meet the diagnostic criteria for IgG4-RD because of the numerous IgG4-positive cells observed. A combination of clinical presentations, laboratory values including the serum IgG4/IgG ratios and histological analysis is crucial for diagnosis of IgG4-RD and iMCD-IPL.