Abstract

A 67-year-old man was referred to the renal team following an episode of acute kidney injury on a background of chronic kidney disease. He had a 9-year history of steroid-sensitive arthritis, epigastric pain and isolated submandibular gland enlargement. He was noted to have a raised eosinophil count, total serum protein and total immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) level as well as a serum hypocomplementaemia. A renal biopsy showed a tubulointerstitial nephritis with lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates, fibrosis and IgG4-positive plasma cells on immunohistochemistry. A diagnosis of IgG4-related disease was made based on clinical presentation and pathology. Renal function improved with glucocorticoids and the patient was successfully transitioned to azathioprine as a steroid-sparing agent.