IgG4-Related Disease 2013

Call for Papers

IgG4-RD is a rapidly emerging, multiorgan system condition that affects virtually every organ system: the pancreas, salivary glands, orbital tissues, aorta, lungs, kidneys, thyroid gland, and others. Patients with this condition have consistent histopathological and immunopathological features across all affected organs. The disease is responsive to glucocorticoids, but such treatment fails to cure the disease in substantial percentages of patients. Outcomes vary according to clinical epidemiology and the specific organ system(s) involved.

Although very little is known about the epidemiology of this condition, the growing medical literature on this disease suggests that the condition may be much more common than generally appreciated and that it frequently goes undiagnosed for long periods of time. The fundamental basis of IgG4-RD remains obscure.

We invite investigators to contribute both original research articles and review articles that will stimulate the continuing efforts to understand the clinical features of IgG4-RD; its pathologic and radiologic characteristics; aspects of the condition's pathophysiology; approaches to treatment; and the evaluation of outcomes. We are particularly interested in articles that describe basic studies pertaining to the biology of IgG4, in mechanistic studies that provide insight into the pathophysiology of IgG4-RD, and in new treatment strategies. Please note that case reports are not accepted by the International Journal of Rheumatology. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• The morphology of IgG4-RD within discrete organs
• Pathophysiology and immunological aspects
• Classification and diagnostic criteria
• Biomarkers in serum and tissue
• The epidemiology of IgG4-RD and its individual organ system manifestations
• The natural history of IgG4-RD and response to treatment
• New treatment approaches
• Utility of IgG4 concentrations and autoantibodies as biomarkers
• Manifestations of IgG4-RD in unusual sites
• The radiology of IgG4-RD
• Lymphadenopathy and IgG4-RD
• The risk of malignancy in IgG4-RD

Before submission authors should carefully read over the journal's Author Guidelines, which are located at http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijr/guidelines/. Prospective authors should submit an electronic copy of their complete manuscript through the journal Manuscript Tracking System at http://mts.hindawi.com/submit/journals/ijr/g4rd13/ according to the following timetable:

Lead Guest Editor

• John H. Stone, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Clinical Rheumatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

Guest Editors

• Suresh Chari, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
• Arezou Khosroshahi, Division of Rheumatology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
• Yasuni Nakanuma, Department of Human Pathology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medicine, Kanazawa, Japan
• Kenji Notohara, Department of Anatomic Pathology, Kurashiki Central Hospital, Kurashiki, Japan