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Overlapping IgG4-Related Nephritis and ANCA Glomerulonephritis in Elderly Woman

Overlapping IgG4-Related Nephritis and ANCA Glomerulonephritis in Elderly Woman
Photo by Europeana / Unsplash
Key Takeaway
Concurrent ANCA-GN and IgG4-TIN require careful clinicopathologic correlation for accurate diagnosis and tailored immunosuppressive therapy.

This case-based review describes an 81-year-old woman who was diagnosed with both ANCA-associated glomerulonephritis (ANCA-GN) and IgG4-related tubulointerstitial nephritis (IgG4-TIN). The patient's presentation underscores the complexity of diagnosing overlapping autoimmune kidney diseases, as these conditions can mimic each other clinically and histopathologically.

The case emphasizes the importance of careful clinicopathologic correlation to guide accurate diagnosis. Distinguishing between ANCA-GN and IgG4-TIN is crucial because treatment strategies differ significantly. ANCA-GN typically requires aggressive immunosuppression, while IgG4-related disease may respond to glucocorticoids alone.

This overlap suggests potential shared autoimmune mechanisms between these two entities. The review calls for increased awareness among clinicians and pathologists to recognize such concurrent presentations. Accurate diagnosis enables appropriate immunosuppressive therapy and improves understanding of disease pathogenesis.

Further research is needed to elucidate the immunological pathways linking ANCA-associated vasculitis and IgG4-related disease. This case contributes to the growing literature on atypical presentations of autoimmune kidney diseases.

Study Details

Study typeSystematic review
EvidenceLevel 1
PublishedMay 2026
View Original Abstract ↓
Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a systemic, immune-mediated fibro-inflammatory disorder with the potential to affect multiple organs, with the kidney being the most commonly involved organ, typically presenting as IgG4-related tubulointerstitial nephritis (IgG4-TIN). Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated glomerulonephritis (ANCA-GN), in contrast, is a pauci-immune necrotizing crescentic glomerulonephritis characterized by acute renal dysfunction and systemic inflammation. While early reports have interpreted IgG4-positive plasma cell infiltration in ANCA-associated vasculitis as evidence of overlap with IgG4-TIN, histologic resemblance in varying disease contexts can make differentiation challenging. In this context, we present the case of an 81-year-old woman diagnosed with both ANCA-GN and IgG4-TIN, informed by a comprehensive review of all previously reported cases. Renal biopsy confirmed this rare overlap, revealing pauci-immune crescentic glomerulonephritis alongside dense IgG4-positive plasma cell infiltration and storiform fibrosis. This case illustrates the diagnostic complexity posed by IgG4-rich inflammatory infiltrates in ANCA-associated disease and underscores the importance of careful clinicopathologic correlation to guide accurate diagnosis, appropriate immunosuppressive therapy, and improved understanding of potentially overlapping autoimmune mechanisms.
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