Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42022514›Full record

ArticleRespirology case reports2026

IgG4-Related Lung Disease in a Former Smoker: A Challenging Diagnosis.

Serena Bellani, Federica Pezzuto, Davide Garbin, Beatrice Scapolan, Luisa Santomartino, Fiorella Calabrese, Elisabetta Balestro, Nicol Bernardinello

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Respirology case reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Serena BellaniRespiratory Disease Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health University of Padova Padova Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0007-0812-1295
Federica PezzutoDepartment of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Science, and Public Health University of Padova Padova Italy.
Davide GarbinRespiratory Disease Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health University of Padova Padova Italy.
Beatrice ScapolanRespiratory Disease Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health University of Padova Padova Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0000-3368-2608
Luisa SantomartinoRespiratory Disease Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health University of Padova Padova Italy.
Fiorella CalabreseDepartment of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Science, and Public Health University of Padova Padova Italy.
Elisabetta BalestroRespiratory Disease Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health University of Padova Padova Italy.
Nicol BernardinelloRespiratory Disease Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health University of Padova Padova Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0148-6984

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a rare systemic fibroinflammatory condition that may affect virtually any organ, including the lungs. Thoracic involvement often occurs with non-specific imaging findings and requires histopathological confirmation. We present the case of a 71-year-old man with a history of T-cell large granular lymphocytic leukaemia and MGUS, who presented with smoking-related interstitial lung disease on high-resolution chest computed tomography (CT) and left lower lobe (LLL) consolidation. Positron emission tomography (PET)/CT revealed hypermetabolic activity in lung consolidations and mediastinal and diaphragmatic lymph nodes. A right diaphragmatic lymph node biopsy showed increased IgG4-positive plasma cells (IgG4/IgG > 40%). Subsequent transbronchial biopsies confirmed the presence of dense lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates, fibrosclerosis and IgG4-positive plasma cells in lung tissue. Given the patient's diabetes, rituximab (RTX) was chosen over corticosteroids. RTX, consisting of four weekly infusions, led to significant clinical improvement and complete metabolic response on follow-up PET/CT. Reporting this case, we would like to emphasise the importance of considering IgG4-RD in the differential diagnosis of atypical thoracic infiltrates and highlight the role of RTX as an effective therapeutic option in patients for whom corticosteroids are contraindicated.

Indexed as

hematologic diseasesimmunoglobulin G4‐related diseaseinterstitial lung diseaselung cancerrituximab

Identifiers

PMID42022514
PMCPMC13097586

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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.