title: IgG4-related disease: diagnostic methods and therapeutic strategies in Japan.
abstract: This review describes methods utilized in Japan to diagnose and treat patients with IgG4-related disease. A diagnosis of IgG4-related disease is based on elevated serum IgG4 concentration and an increased number of IgG4(+) plasma cells. Differentiating IgG4-related disease from other disorders, especially malignancy, is quite important. Consensus treatment in Japan consists of an initial dose of prednisolone at 0.5-0.6 mg/kg/day, followed by careful and gradual dose reduction. Most patients require maintenance treatment at 5 to 10 mg/day. Patients refractory to glucocorticoids are either truly refractory or have been misdiagnosed, therefore requiring reassessment.
authors.affiliation: Hematology and Immunology, Kanazawa Medical University.
authors.forename: Yasufumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Masaki
authors.forename: Hironori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: Tomomi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sato Nakamura
authors.forename: Takuji
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Akio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nakajima
authors.forename: Haruka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Iwao Kawanami
authors.forename: Miyuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miki
authors.forename: Tomoyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.forename: Takafumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawanami
authors.forename: Yoshimasa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fujita
authors.forename: Masao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Toshihiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fukushima
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007154:Immune System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology*; D007564:Japan
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G