IgG4-related disease can present as recurrent spontaneous hemothorax: a case report

BMC Pulmonary Medicine
• Case report
• Open Access
• Open Peer Review

• Junping Fan†,
• Ruie Feng†,
• Xiaomeng Hou,
• Ji Li,
• Xuefeng Sun,
• Jinglan Wang,
• Juhong Shi,
• Mengzhao Wang and
• Yan XuEmail author

†Contributed equally

BMC Pulmonary Medicine201919:26

Abstract

Background

Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) encompasses a group of immune-mediated disorders that are gaining increasing recognition.

Pulmonary presentations are common, with four types of patterns been described on radiography, including solid nodular, bronchovascular, ground glass opacities, and alveolar interstitial. Pleural thickening and pleural effusion have also been reported. However, there have been no reports of IgG4-RD that presents as spontaneous hemothorax.

Case presentation

A 61-year-old Chinese woman experienced recurrent right-sided chest pain and transient syncope. A significant decrease in her hemoglobin level and thick bloody pleural fluid demonstrated spontaneous hemothorax. The elevated serum IgG4 and histopathological analysis of the right pleura and intercostal lymph node specimens all supported the diagnosis of IgG4-RD in this patient. Further diagnostic evaluation did not reveal other causes for spontaneous hemothorax. She received steroids and no recurrent bleeding event occurred during a follow-up period of more than 1 year.

Conclusion

Recurrent spontaneous hemothorax can be a rare manifestation of IgG4-RD, with pleural involvement as the most probable mechanism.

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