Table 2 Baseline characteristics and outcomes of patients with IgG4-RD, grouped according to treatment
|  | GC monotherapy (n = 77) | Combination therapy comprising GC and IM (n = 138) | p value |
|---|---|---|---|
Sex (male:female) | 2.08:1 | 2.29:1 | 0.761 |
Age (years) | 54 (45, 61) | 54 (48, 62) | 0.723 |
Disease duration (months) | 12 (4, 24) | 12 (4, 36) | 0.649 |
IgG4-RD RI | 13 (10, 18) | 15 (10, 18) | 0.685 |
Allergy history | 42 (54.5%) | 73 (53.7%) | 1 |
Number of organs involved | Â | 0.369 | |
 1 ~ 2 | 32 (41.6%) | 46 (33.3%) |  |
 3 ~ 4 | 35 (45.5%) | 66 (47.8%) |  |
 ≥ 5 | 10 (13.0%) | 26 (18.8%) |  |
Organ involvement | |||
 Mikulicz’s disease | 51 (66.2%) | 87 (63.0%) | 0.659 |
  Dacryoadenitis | 35 (45.5%) | 60 (43.5%) | 0.886 |
  Sialoadenitis | 46 (59.7%) | 78 (56.5%) | 0.668 |
 Autoimmune pancreatitis | 34 (44.2%) | 57 (41.3%) | 0.774 |
 Sclerosing cholangitis | 22 (28.6%) | 36 (26.1%) | 0.749 |
 Retroperitoneal fibrosis | 10 (13.0%) | 40 (29.0%) | 0.007 |
 Lung disease | 17 (22.1%) | 45 (32.6%) | 0.118 |
 Sinusitis | 25 (32.5%) | 37 (26.8%) | 0.433 |
 Lymphadenopathy | 53 (68.8%) | 86 (62.3%) | 0.374 |
Laboratory tests at baseline | |||
 Eosinophils (%) | 3.3 (1.7, 6.2) | 3.2 (1.4, 6.4) | 0.773 |
 ESR (mm/h) | 25 (9, 53) | 25 (10, 65) | 0.790 |
 CRP (mg/L) | 2.06 (0.79, 11.24) | 4.01 (1.29, 10.32) | 0.297 |
 IgG (g/L) | 18.83 (14.24, 25.54) | 18.9 (15.2, 23.68) | 0.747 |
 IgG4 (mg/L) | 10,200 (3590, 18,800) | 8955 (3480, 18,075) | 0.554 |
 IgE (kU/L) | 510 (178, 881) | 256 (119, 728) | 0.118 |
Initial GC dose | 40 (35, 50) | 40 (40,50) | 0.567 |
Outcomes at month 6 | |||
 RI reductiona <50% | 2 (2.6%) | 1 (0.7%) | 0.292 |
 Relapse | 14 (18.2%) | 9 (6.5%) | 0.011 |
 Failure of GC tapering | 8 (10.4%) | 9 (6.5%) | 0.429 |
 Failure of remission induction | 16 (20.8%) | 10 (7.2%) | 0.008 |