Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41495676›Full record

Observational studyBMC gastroenterology2026

Clinical features, responses to therapy and prognosis of 107 patients with IgG4-related cholangitis: a retrospective study.

Jia Sun, Chun Li, Zu-Yi Ma, Xin Wu, Tai Liu, Bing-Lu Li

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in BMC gastroenterology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Jia SunDepartment of General Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
Chun LiDepartment of General Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
Zu-Yi MaDepartment of General Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
Xin WuDepartment of General Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
Tai LiuDepartment of General Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
Bing-Lu LiDepartment of General Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China. PUMCHLBL@163.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9142-0793

Funding

Beijing Bethune Charitable Foundation GDZL040Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities 3332024119Scientific research promotion program for clinical medicine 2025CMFA08
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIgG4-related cholangitis (IRC) is an important hepatobiliary manifestation of IgG4-related diseases (IRD), frequently accompanied by other organ involvement of IRD especially autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP). Diagnosis of IRC requires comprehensive evaluation. The patients respond well to glucocorticosteroids and have good long-term prognosis regardless of relapse. This retrospective observational study described the clinical features, responses to therapy and prognosis of patients with IRC.

aimThe aim of our study was to describe and analyze the clinical features, responses to treatment and prognosis of 107 patients with IRC at our hospital, exploring the difficulties and clinical experience in the diagnosis and treatment of IRC.

methodsWe conducted a retrospective study of 107 patients with IRC (88 males and 19 females; mean age, 60.8 years) treated at Peking Union Medical College Hospital between January 2013 and April 2023. Data on demographic, clinical, serologic, pathologic and imaging characteristics as well as treatment responses and prognosis were collected and analyzed. Statistical Package for Social Sciences software (SPSS, version 25.0) and Python (version 3.11) were used for the data analysis. Survival was assessed using Kaplan–Meier curves. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze risk factors of relapse. A two-sided probability P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to predict the value of steroid maintenance duration for relapse.

resultsThe most common symptoms at presentation were jaundice (76.6%) and weight loss (72.9%). AIP was the most prevalent comorbidity (96.3%). Serum IgG4 levels were elevated in 99% of the patients, and isolated stenosis of the lower part of the common bile duct (type 1 IRC) was the most common imaging finding (49.5%). Nearly 90% of the patients were treated with steroids, and all presented with an excellent response. A relapse rate of 37.5% was observed during the follow-up period, most of which occurred after steroid withdrawal (47.2%). Steroid maintenance duration was the significant independent risk factor of relapse in patients with IRC (P = 0.001) (odds ratio, 0.875; 95% CI, 0.811–0.944). The patients were followed up for a median of 63.8 months. Four patients (4.0%) died, and none of them had cholangiocarcinoma. Overall 5-year and 10-year survival rates were 97.0% and 96.0%, respectively. The disease-specific survival rate was 100%.

conclusionAmong the 107 patients examined, IRC was found to be benign and exhibited an excellent response to steroid treatment. No patient progressed to cholangiocarcinoma, and relapse had no impact on the overall survival rate.

Indexed as

CholangitisGlucocorticoidsImmunoglobulin G4-Related DiseaseAdultAgedAutoimmune PancreatitisFemaleHumansImmunoglobulin GKaplan-Meier EstimateMaleMiddle AgedPrognosisRecurrenceRetrospective StudiesRisk FactorsGlucocorticoidsImmunoglobulin GAutoimmune pancreatitisBiliary strictureCholangiocarcinomaGlucocorticoidsIgG4-related cholangitis

Identifiers

PMID41495676
PMCPMC12888121

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.