Dupilumab as an adjunct treatment for a patient with steroid-dependent immunoglobulin G4-related disease complicated by asthma: a case report

Introduction: Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) responds well to glucocorticoids but is often associated with relapses. Interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13 are involved in the pathogenesis of IgG4-RD. We present the first case in which dupilumab was an effective adjunct treatment for a patient with steroid-dependent IgG4-RD complicated by asthma.Case study: A 57-year-old man was referred to our hospital for further investigation and treatment of proptosis with neck swelling in 2019. He developed a cough and swelling of the neck in 2016. He was diagnosed with asthma in 2017 and started receiving inhaled glucocorticoids and a long-acting beta-agonist. The patient started receiving oral prednisolone at a dose of 20 mg/day. Oral prednisolone reduced his symptoms, but he relapsed when treatment was tapered to less than 10 mg/day. He was diagnosed with IgG4-RD through a parotid gland biopsy.Results: Azathioprine was given to reduce systemic glucocorticoids. The prednisolone dose was gradually tapered to 10 mg/day, resulting in the relapse of proptosis and an asthma attack. We added dupilumab, and his asthma symptoms and proptosis improved. Serum IgG4 levels continued to decrease, and the prednisolone dose was tapered to 2 mg.Conclusion: Dupilumab might be useful as an adjunctive treatment for patients with steroid-dependent IgG4-RD complicated by asthma. Serum IgG4 levels can be used as a marker to monitor dupilumab treatment in IgG4-RD.