Objectives: 2-[18F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) was reported to be useful for monitoring immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD); however, a quantitative FDG-PET/CT analysis such as total lesion glycolysis (TLG) has not yet been conducted. This study aimed to investigate whether TLG would correlate with serum markers in IgG4-RD, and the utility of TLG for disease monitoring.
Methods: This retrospective study included 17 patients (12 men; median age, 62 years) who were followed up at Kyoto University Hospital and underwent FDG-PET/CT from April 2009 to November 2013. TLG was calculated for the involved lesions. Correlations between serum markers [IgG4, soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and C-reactive protein (CRP)] and TLG concomitant with FDG-PET/CT scans were investigated. Serial changes in TLG were assessed in patients who underwent follow-up FDG-PET/CT (n = 6).
Results: The calculated median (IQL) TLG value was 154.8 (63.7-324.4). A significant correlation was found between the sIL-2R level and TLG (P = 0.001, rs = 0.763). In contrast, no correlations were found between the IgG4, LDH, or CRP levels and TLG. Increased or decreased TLG corresponded with clinical disease improvement or worsening.
Conclusions: TLG correlated significantly with the serum sIL-2R level and may be useful for disease monitoring in IgG4-RD.
Keywords: FDG-PET; IgG4-related disease; Soluble IL-2 receptor; Total lesion glycolysis.