Improvement of a compressed inferior vena cava due to IgG4-related retroperitoneal fibrosis with steroid therapy

Intern Med. 2012;51(13):1705-7. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.51.7378. Epub 2012 Jul 1.

Abstract

A 79-year-old man had a 3.5-year history of edema of the lower extremities of unknown etiology. Abdominal computed tomography showed a soft tissue mass around the abdominal aorta, and the biopsy revealed dense fibrosis with abundant infiltration of IgG4-positive plasma cells. His serum IgG4 level was increased to 188 mg/dL. His lower extremity edema was induced by stenosis of the inferior vena cava (IVC) due to the mass. With a diagnosis of IgG4-related retroperitoneal fibrosis, he was treated with steroid, and the leg edema decreased with improvement of patency of the IVC and reduction of the soft tissue mass.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Constriction, Pathologic
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood*
  • Magnetic Resonance Angiography
  • Male
  • Prednisolone / therapeutic use
  • Retroperitoneal Fibrosis / drug therapy*
  • Retroperitoneal Fibrosis / immunology*
  • Retroperitoneal Fibrosis / pathology
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Vena Cava, Inferior* / pathology

Substances

  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Prednisolone