COVID-19 Update 27th March 2020: HIGH RISK GROUP
- IgG4 Patients -
Immunoglobulin G4 Related Disease - IgG4-RD Study -
COVID-19 Update 27th March 2020: HIGH RISK GROUP - IgG4 Patients are in the vulnerable category and those over 70 and/or on immunosuppressive should shield as per government guidelines.
NHS England has identified a high-risk group of up to 1.5 million patients across England via NHS Digital coding, who are being asked to shield for their own protection and for whom they will provide a degree of enhanced support. There are some patients at high risk who will not be identified via this route. This includes patients who are taking certain combinations of immunosuppressive drugs (e.g. high-dose corticosteroids, azathioprine, mycophenolate, mercaptopurine).
The British Society of Rheumatology have developed a risk stratification guide and scoring grid, which can be applied to patients with IgG4-related disease to help to identify which precautions patients should take. This advises on whether patients should shield, self-isolate or social distance at patient discretion or maintain social distance due to their level of risk. These categories are based on vulnerability due to condition(s) and medication(s).
Patients practicing shielding should visit the Public Health England’s guidance on shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable from COVID-19.
Medications
All patients should continue to take their medication unless directed otherwise by their specialist team or GP. Patients on long-term glucocorticoids (steroids, prednisolone) should not stop these abruptly.
Blood test monitoring
There needs to be some flexibility about blood test monitoring in those patients on stable doses of immunosuppressive medications to balance risk and benefit. These may be reduced to three-monthly in stable patients and will be guided by your physician.
Appointments
Clinicians will aim to remove the need for patients to attend face-to-face appointments wherever possible. This might involve telephone appointments or video consultations. NHSX and the Information Commissioners Office have permitted the NHS to use WhatsApp/FaceTime/Skype for patients given the urgent nature of the situation.
About IgG4 Related Disease
Welcome to the IgG4-Related Disease home page!
IgG4-Related Disease (IgG4-RD) is a multi-system fibro-inflammatory condition that causes masses and/or strictures in involved organs.
For more information on IgG4-RD for clinicians Click Here
For more information on IgG4-RD for patients Click Here
IgG4 Related Disease Symposium March 2018
The UK's first IgG4-Related Disease Symposium held at the Royal College of Physicians, in London, was a great success. It was a fantastic turnout and we would like to thank all the speakers and everyone who attended this event. For more information and to see the interview videos, please Click Here
UK-IgG4
The aim of UK-IgG4 is to be multi-disciplinary and "promote and encourage academic, clinical and educational collaborations in IgG4-related disease".
For more information about UK-IgG4, please click here.
IgG4 Related Disease Registry Study
The IgG4-RD Registry Study is funded by EASL (The European Association for the Study of the Liver). We started recruitment in July 2011 and have incoporated nearly 500 patients with 19 active sites in the UK and 2 in The Netherlands.
If you’re a clinician or patient who would like to participate in these studies or know more about them, please contact Jonathan Lau, IgG4-RD Project Manager, either by email: emma.culver@ndm.ox.ac.uk or telephone: 01865 220077.
Other Studies
Other IgG4 Lab, translational, and clinical studies, please Click Here
Publications
Read more about the research we've published.
IgG4-RD Investigators and Clinical Service
The IgG4 clinical service and research studies are led by Dr Emma Culver in Oxford and Dr George Webster in London. Dr. Rory Peters ( Clinical Fellow ) and Dr Emmanuel Selvaraj (PhD student) have a research focus on hepatobiliary disease. Professor Eleanor Barnes is the CI of the IgG4-RD study.
British Association for Study of Liver Disease (BASL)
The British Association for the Study of the Liver is the National Association for hepatology. BASL is dedicated to advancing knowledge and understanding of the biology and pathology of the liver for the optimal care of patients. BASL is composed of interested individuals from clinical medicine, clinical and basic research and allied professions.
Immune-Mediated Liver Disease Special Interest Group
The Immune-Mediated Liver Disease Special Interest Group (SIG) is an affiliate of the British Association for Study of Liver Disease (BASL) and cross cuts existing programmes of activity as part of UK-PSC, UK-PBC, UK-AIH and IgG4-related hepatobiliary disease.