Immunoglobulin G4-related periodontitis: case report and review of the literature

Background Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a chronic inflammatory systemic disease of unknown etiology that can affect one or multiple organs. The disease can mimic many infectious and inflammatory diseases, mainly causing organ enlargement or hyperplasia. Its diagnosis primarily relies on clinical, serologic, and histological features (lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates, storiform fibrosis, and obliterative phlebitis of IgG4 + plasma cells). Here, we report a rare case of IgG4-related periodontitis, and review the relevant literatures. Case presentation A 38-year-old Chinese man visited the Department of Periodontics with gingival enlargement, loose teeth, and tooth loss. The patient had very poor oral hygiene and a large amount of calculus. Gingivae were edematous with deep periodontal pockets and attachment loss. Panoramic radiography showed alveolar bone loss. Serologic examination showed that IgG was 23.70 g/L and IgG4 concentration was 2.800 g/L. There was significant lymphoplasmacytic infiltration, a storiform pattern of fibrosis, and mitotic figures with hematoxylin and eosin staining; immunohistochemical staining showed 10 scattered IgG4-positive plasma cells in a high-power field. The patient was diagnosed as IgG4-related periodontitis. He received a course of corticosteroids with periodontal therapy, and the enlargement was significantly improved without recurrence. Conclusion IgG4-RD in the oral and maxillofacial region mainly involves salivary glands, but this rare case was characterized by enlarged gingivae. The differential diagnosis of IgG4-RD should be based on the clinical features and serologic (IgG4) and histopathological examinations. Corticosteroid therapy is effective for most IgG4-RD patients. Taken together, we hope this case report and the literature review can help dentists to improve their understanding of the IgG4-RD. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12903-021-01592-2.


Background
Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a chronic inflammatory and systemic disease of unknown etiology that involves various organs, such as the pancreas, bile duct, orbital tissues, lacrimal and salivary glands, lungs, skin, liver, arteries, kidneys, retroperitoneum, prostate, gallbladder, and lymph nodes [1][2][3][4]. IgG4-related pancreatitis was first reported in 2001 [1,2]. The incidence of IgG4-RD in Japan is reported to be 2.8 to 10.8 per million people and the prevalence is concentrated in middle-aged and older men [3,4]. The clinical presentation of IgG-RD is varied and non-specific. Some patients are asymptomatic, while others present with organ dysfunction or masses, pseudotumoral enlargement, fibrosis, sclerosis, hyperplasia, or granuloma; clinical symptoms of some IgG4-RDs may be similar to those of malignant tumors [5][6][7]. Here, we report a rare case of IgG4-related periodontitis and review the relevant literatures on the clinical manifestations and pathological features of IgG4-RDs in the oral and maxillofacial Open Access *Correspondence: yfw1110@163.com † Jinmei Zhang and Lei Zhao: contributed equally to this work 2 National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China College of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China Full list of author information is available at the end of the article region, and provide information on differential diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of IgG4-RDs.

Case presentation
A 38-year-old Chinese man visited the Department of Periodontics (West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Sichuan, China) with gingival enlargement, loose teeth, and tooth loss. The chief complaint of the patient was generalized gingival enlargement beginning 2 years ago, sometimes with pus. The teeth gradually loosened several months ago, and the left maxillary first molar was lost following severe pain. A local doctor diagnosed him as periodontitis, and then he was referred to the Department of Periodontics for periodontal therapy.
Medical history: The patient was a smoker for 20 years, averaging 20+ cigarettes per day. There was no relevant family history and no special disease history, no history of allergies, and the patient was not on any drugs. The extraoral examination showed facial symmetry and no obvious abnormalities in the lymph nodes of the head and neck. Intraoral examination showed that the patient has extremely poor oral hygiene, with a mass of dental plaque and debris covering almost all the teeth. The teeth had subgingival and supragingival calculus from the incisors to the molars. Gingivae were generally enlarged and red, and the buccal gingivae of the left mandible and maxilla were even enlarged toward the occlusal surface. The involved gingivae were edematous and tender, the gingival margin was inflamed, and there was no ulceration or significant necrosis. General findings were bleeding on probing, deep periodontal pockets, and attachment loss. Tooth mobility varied from I o -III o , and was III o in the left maxillary first premolar and second premolar (Fig. 1A). Mucosal texture and color were basically regular. There were no specific findings in the salivary glands, and salivary gland ducts could open normally. Panoramic radiography showed generalized alveolar bone loss (ABL), especially alveolar bone resorption at the left maxillary first and second premolars, as well as the left and right posterior teeth from alveolar crest to the apical area, but the maxillary sinus was intact without damage (Fig. 1B). No significant abnormalities were found in further clinical examinations, bone marrow examination, and tests for infectious diseases such as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), syphilis, hepatitis B and C, and mycobacterium tuberculosis. Serological examination showed that C-reactive protein was high at 14 mg/L (normal range: 0-10 mg/L), the serum IgG was 23.70 g/L (normal range: 8.00-15.50 g/L), and IgG4 concentration was 2.800 g/L (normal range: 0.035-1.500 g/L). Then biopsy of gingivae was carried out under anesthesia from the left maxillary first and second molar.
Histological analysis of hematoxylin and eosin staining (H&E) demonstrated ulceration, a large infiltration of lymphoplasmacytic cells, a storiform pattern of fibrosis, and mitotic figures ( Fig. 1C-a, b); the preliminary diagnosis was plasma cell granuloma. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining results showed that scattered infiltration of 10 IgG4-positive plasma cells in the high-power field (HPF) (Fig. 1C-c, d). Other IHC markers, CD38, Ki-67/ mum, kappa, lambda, EBER, and Pan Cytokeratin (PCK) were positive (Additional file 1: Figure S1, data not shown). Position emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) also excluded the possibility of cancer, and there were no obvious changes in other organs. According to clinical manifestations and serological and histological features, the lesion was regarded as an inflammatory condition. After 2 months, the patient was diagnosed as IgG4-related periodontitis by the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology (West China Hospital of Sichuan University) on the basis of the diagnostic criteria for IgG4-RD, although there were only 10 IgG4-positive plasma cells in the HPF. Using a new classification of periodontitis from a 2017 workshop [8][9][10][11][12][13][14], he was then diagnosed as periodontitis (Stage III, generalized, Grade C) and classified as manifestation of systemic diseases by Department of Periodontics.
The treatment plan for this patient was oral corticosteroids and periodontal therapy guided by the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology (West China Hospital of Sichuan University) and the Department of Periodontics. The rheumatologist recommended oral corticosteroids therapy. The initial dose of prednisolone was 0.6 mg/kg for 2 weeks (40 mg/day), which was then tapered by 5 mg every week for 6 weeks to determine a maintenance dose (5 mg/day). At the same time, the periodontist carried out periodontal therapy, including oral hygiene instruction, supragingival cleaning, subgingival scaling, and root planning ( Fig. 2A). Three months later after non-surgical therapy, the periodontist re-evaluated the periodontal condition of the patient, then suggested he should have supportive periodontal therapy (SPT).
(See figure on next page.) Fig. 1 A Intraoral examination revealed generalized gingival swelling, calculus and poor oral hygiene, gingival margin was inflamed, gingivae were edematous and tenderness; B Panoramic radiograph showed alveolar bone resorption; C a, b: Histologic examination using hematoxylin-erosin (H&E) staining showed ulceration, a large number of lymphoplasmacytic cells infiltration and a storiform pattern of fibrosis, with occasional mitotic figures. (Magnification: a, ×40; b, ×100), arrowheads indicate a storiform pattern of fibrosis. c, d: Immunohistochemical staining was positive index for IgG4 (10/HPF) (magnification c ×200; d ×400), arrowheads indicate IgG4 + cells and a storiform pattern of fibrosis After 6 months of multidisciplinary comprehensive treatment, an approach using corticosteroids with periodontal non-surgical therapy, gingival edema disappeared, the color of the gingivae turned pink, gingivae recessed, periodontal pockets became shallow, and gingival enlargement significantly decreased (Fig. 2B). In serological testing, IgG4 concentration was 0.584 g/L, which was in the normal range. After this, the rheumatologist   Fig. 2 A Multidisciplinary comprehensive treatment approach with corticosteroids and periodontal non-surgical therapy; B After 6 months of multidisciplinary comprehensive treatment, the swelling of the gingivae significantly improved, the gingival edema disappeared and the gingivae recessed recommended a supportive dose of 5 mg/day and revisit every 3 months, while the periodontist suggested that patient should have SPT every 3 months and quit smoking (timeline in Additional file 2: Figure S2, data not shown).

Discussion and conclusions
IgG4-RD is a fibroinflammatory disease characterized by diffuse/localized enlargement in one or multiple organs, elevated serum IgG4 levels, and extensive infiltration of IgG4-positive plasma cells [15][16][17][18]. Although the etiology of IgG4-RD is not clear, it is possibly caused by a genetic, microbiological, or persistent antigenic or autoimmune stimulus [19]. In addition, several studies demonstrated that IgG4-RD is a Th2-dependent disease [1,20], and it can be a result of immunological and allergic conditions in different organs [19]. IgG4-RDs include autoimmune pancreatitis, Mikulicz disease (MD), pachymeningitis, hypophysitis, orbital pseudotumor, chronic sclerosing dacryoadenitis, pericarditis, sclerosing cholangitis, prostatitis, and other disorders [2,21,22]. IgG4-RDs occur most commonly in the pancreas, followed by the head and neck regions (particularly in the salivary glands), then skin, orbit, lymph nodes, thyroid, upper airway, and respiratory tract [23,24]. IgG4-RDs may be responsible in patients with hyperplasia, enlargement, compression, obstruction, or organ dysfunction in these areas [6,7]. What is more, another characteristic feature of IgG4-RD is the possibility of recurrence [1]. Based on the consensus [25], there are three comprehensive diagnostic criteria for IgG4-RD: (1) characteristic diffuse/ localized enlargement or masses in single organ or multiple organs, (2) elevated serum IgG4 concentrations, and (3) dense lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates, storiform fibrosis, and obliterative phlebitis with a significant number of IgG4 + plasma cells: IgG4 + /IgG > 40% or > 10 IgG4 + plasma cells/high-power field (HPF). Under the standard diagnostic criteria, the finding of all three means definite disease, the finding of (1) and (2) means probable, and (1) and (3) means possible.
In this case, the clinical sign was generalized gingival enlargement, involving both free and attached gingivae, and serologic examination showed the serum IgG4 concentration was 2.800 g/L (normal range: 0.035-1.500 g/L). In addition, the histological examination (H&E and IHC) showed marked lymphoplasmacytic infiltration and fibrosis, with scattered infiltration of 10 IgG4-positive plasma cells in the HPF, so the final diagnosis in this patient was IgG4-related periodontitis. Although there was no predominant venulitis, it is possible that due to the size and location of the lesions, restricted sampling obscured venulitis [26]. Everds NE et al. reported that pre-analytical and analytical variables and related factors, for example, sample fixation could have an impact on clinical pathology [27].
There are many reasons for gingival enlargement, such as dental plaque, drugs, autoimmune response, and genetic factors, as well as systemic diseases. Local and generalized gingival enlargement caused by IgG4-RDs is similar to plasma cell granuloma, drug-induced gingival enlargement, hereditary gingival fibromatosis, epulis, periodontitis, and leukemia (Table 1). One study showed that plasma cell granuloma can also be accompanied by high serum concentration of IgG4, a mean number of IgG4 + plasma cells (HPF) more than 10, and an IgG4 + /IgG plasma cell ratio more than 40%, but it is not an IgG4-RD [6] because there is no lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate, storiform fibrosis, or obliterative phlebitis in plasma cell granuloma. Because of the similarity, the definitive diagnosis of IgG4-RD needs to have comprehensive diagnostic criteria. Therefore, oral diseases involved with IgG4-RDs should be differentially diagnosed through clinical features, medical history, radiology studies, and histopathological examination to avoid misdiagnosis and delaying diagnosis.
In the oral and maxillofacial regions, the occurrence of involved gingivae in IgG4-RDs (especially IgG4-related periodontitis) is relatively rare, and the most common diseases are MD and Kuttner's tumor (also known as chronic sclerosing dacryoadenitis) [15]. Patients with MD develop bilateral, symmetrical, painless enlargement of their lacrimal and salivary (parotid and submandibular) glands. CT usually shows the lacrimal gland, parotid gland, and submandibular gland enlargement. Serological and pathological findings are consistent with IgG4-RDs [15,16,35]. In addition to MD, Kuttner's tumor is thought to be another common lesion of IgG4-RDs in the oral and maxillofacial regions. The clinical manifestations are similar to those of other tumors, but Kuttner's tumor is usually benign, occurring with an immune disorder. The main clinical manifestations are hard, painless masses in the salivary glands, and radiological examination can show disappearance of the acinus and ductal dilatation. The histological manifestation is ductal fibrosis of the salivary gland, with significant connective tissue proliferation and hyaline degeneration; acinar atrophy disappears, replaced by a large number of lymphocytes and plasma cells [35]. These two diseases are especially easy to confuse with Sjögren's syndrome (SS), and sometimes the early symptoms of MD and Kuttner's tumor will require differentiation from SS. However, the biggest difference is that anti-SSA (anti-Ro) antibodies and anti-SSB (anti-La) antibodies can be detected in SS patients [15].
We performed a literature review through the PubMed database using the terms "IgG4-related, " "case, " "oral, " and Immunosuppression due to malignant transformation of leukocyte production in the bone marrow Gingival swelling and bleeding due to leukemic cell infiltration. Ulceration and necrosis on gingiva and tooth mobility Primarily undifferentiated leukocytes "maxillofacial" [4,7,[35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49]. We found that the main sites of IgG4-RDs in the oral and maxillofacial region are salivary glands (11 cases), lymph nodes (3 cases), and maxillary sinus (7 cases). Beyond that, sites included alveolar mucosa (3 cases), hard palate (2 cases), floor of mouth (1 case), and facial nerve (2 cases) ( Table 2). Gingivae, as in this case, were rarely reported. In addition, more than one site was involved in 3 cases. Among all the reported cases, the ratio of males/females was 17:6, and the average age was around 61.13 years old. The number of IgG4 + /HPF was as high as 403, and the highest ratio of IgG4 + /IgG was 94% (Table 2). Because the clinical features are asymptomatic and nonspecific, and the sensitivity and specificity of serologic examination is only 60% [50], it is mandatory to do a biopsy for diagnosis of IgG4-RDs. Although IgG4 concentration surprisingly reached 30.31 g/L in a previous case, it is worth noting that the IgG4 level can also be elevated in specific and non-specific inflammation, autoimmune diseases (systemic lupus erythematosus, SS, and vasculitis), other tumors, pancreatic cancer, bile duct cancer, primary immunodeficiency disease, and interstitial pneumonia [51]. It is also worth mentioning that there were 5 cases diagnosed as IgG4-RD with normal serum IgG4 level, which indicated that the serum IgG4 index has limitations for diagnosis of IgG4-RDs. However, if there is an abnormal IgG4 serologic finding, diseases related to high IgG4 concentration such as IgG4-RDs should be considered. Overall, the common chief complaints of patients are neck enlargement, dry mouth, enlargement of lymph nodes, gingival hyperplasia, and mucosal enlargement. The clinical manifestations in the oral and maxillofacial regions include enlargement and painless hard masses in the salivary glands, and the radiographs often show enlargement of the salivary glands. Even though some IgG4-RDs appear first in the oral cavity, the symptoms in other organs can't be overlooked, since 7 previous cases demonstrated other organs involvement (Table 3). Among 23 cases, five cases were initially misdiagnosed and only correctly diagnosed after 7-20 months [7,39,42]. Xue et al. [20] reported a case of a 60-yearold woman who had been diagnosed as IgG4-RD after 19 years of misdiagnosis. In this period, the patient suffered multi-organ progressive enlargement, involving the parotid glands, lacrimal glands, kidneys, submandibular glands, salivary glands, pituitary, pancreas, and lung. Because of the misdiagnosis, the patient was admitted to the hospital frequently. Additionally, another patient's condition was exacerbated 7 months after surgery because of misdiagnosis, until the treatment plan was adjusted to include corticosteroids therapy, the serum IgG4 level significantly decreased and the symptoms were relieved [39]. This is a good illustration that dentists should also pay attention to patients' systemic diseases in addition to oral diseases.
Currently, there is no standard treatment plan for IgG4-RDs, but they are generally sensitive to corticosteroids therapy. The recommended dosage is prednisone 0.6 mg /kg/day for 2 to 4 weeks. After 3-6 months, it is gradually reduced to 5 mg/day, and then 2.5-5 mg/day for 3 years [37,40,43,44,48]. The dosage of corticosteroids can be adjusted according to the severity of the patient's condition. In one case, the patient was given pulsed therapy with 200 mg of methylprednisolone and 20 g gamma globulin via intravenous infusion [20]. After corticosteroid therapy, the prognosis is good, with a return to a normal serum IgG4 level and no recurrence. Patients often maintain a 5 mg/day dosage under guidance of a physician for several months or years, and the probability of recurrence is quite low. In addition to corticosteroid therapy, there is also rituximab therapy for patients who are steroid resistant [41,52].
This review reported a rare clinical case of IgG4related periodontitis with generalized and severe gingival enlargement in the oral and maxillofacial region. As systemic diseases, IgG4-RDs have gradually gained the attention of medical community but the etiology and pathology of these diseases are still unclear. The clinical features of IgG4-RDs are diverse and non-specific, involving multiple organs, and diagnosis should be based on the clinical, serologic, and histological features (ratio of IgG4/IgG or number of plasma cells in HPF); otherwise, IgG4-RDs are easily misdiagnosed. In addition, an early and correct diagnosis is the main goal for the future studies. When we see abnormal edematous and hyperplastic gingivae that are different from the regular periodontal manifestations, serologic examinations should be performed first. If the serology is normal, we should consider biopsy and immunohistochemical staining of local tissues. The combination of serologic, histological, and clinical features can be a clue for further investigation. Of course, periodontitis as a rare manifestation of systemic disease is indeed confusing and difficult to diagnose.
At present, several researchers are dedicated to developing more optimal, specific classification standards that can help to diagnose IgG4-RDs more quickly and accurately, but the relationship between IgG4-RDs and periodontitis still needs further investigation. Additionally, many oral symptoms may be associated with systemic diseases, so it is essential to pay attention to oral health. In conclusion, improvements are needed in correctly diagnosing and treating IgG4-RD, avoiding misdiagnosis, delivering timely treatment, alleviating symptoms, and improving prognosis.
Additional file 1. Immunohistochemical staining was positive index for CD38 (a, b), Ki-67/mib-1(c, d), mum1(e, f ), kappa (g, h), lambda (i, j), EBER (k, l), PCK (m, n). (magnification a, c, e, g, i, k, m ×200; b, d, f, h, j, l, n ×400) Additional file 2. Timeline of treatment JZ collected, analyzed data and played a major role in the writing of the manuscript. LZ and YW reviewed, edited and gave the final approval for the manuscript. JZ and WD made contribution to the diagnosis of the patient and help to follow up of the patient. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.