An international panel of experts have developed recommendations for the management of IgG4-RD. They concluded that in all cases of symptomatic, active IgG4-RD that treatment is required. Some cases with asymptomatic IgG4-RD also require treatment, as some organs tend to not cause symptoms until the late stages of disease. Urgent treatment is advised with certain organ manifestations, such as aortitis, retroperitoneal fibrosis, proximal biliary strictures, tubulointerstitial nephritis, pachymeningitis, pancreatic enlargement and pericarditis. Induction of remission
In untreated patients with active disease, the recommended first-line agent for induction of remission is glucocorticoids unless contraindications exist. Glucocorticoids characteristically result in a rapid and often dramatic improvement in clinical features and often a resolution of radiographic features. However, where advanced fibrotic lesions have resulted in irreversible damage, the response to glucocorticoids and other current treatment options may be poor or even absent. Although not validated yet in clinical trials, the common induction regime is prednisolone 30–40 mg per day for 2–4 weeks, then gradually tapered over 3 to 6 months. Recurrences during or after tapering of glucocorticoids are frequent, however. Steroid-sparing immunosuppressive agents might be considered, depending on local availability of these drugs, for use in combination with glucocorticoids from the start of treatment in order to reduce the side-effects of prolonged glucocorticoid usage. Steroid-sparing agents that have been used include rituximab, azathioprine, methotrexate, and cyclophosphamide, although trials are needed to ascertain the effectiveness of each drug in IgG4-RD.
Fibrosis, arranged at least focally in a "storiform" pattern. "Storiform" is commonly referred to as meaning having a cartwheel pattern, but its literal meaning is the appearance of a woven mat [Latin: storea] (of rush or straw). Obliterative phlebitis. The venous channels are obliterated by a dense lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate, within both the venous walls and the lumen.Other histopathological features associated with IgG4-RD are:

Phlebitis without obliteration of the lumen. Tissue has increased numbers of eosinophils. Submandibular gland research
In an article from 1977, histological research into 349 cases of Küttners tumor (now known as IgG4-related sialadenitis) identified four distinct stages of the fibroinflammatory process:
Stage 1: Focal periductal (around the salivary ducts) infiltration of lymphocytes
Stage 2: Diffuse infiltration of lymphocytes and severe periductal fibrosis (scarring around the salivary ducts)
Stage 3: Prominent infiltration of lymphocytes, atrophy of parenchyma (i.e. loss of functional areas due to shrinkage), and periductal sclerosis (scarring resulting in hardening around the salivary ducts)
Stage 4: Marked loss of and sclerosis (hardening) of the parenchyma (functional area) - similar to the process involved in cirrhosis where there is shrinkage and loss of functional areas of the liverThis may reflect the inflammatory process and development of fibrosis that occurs in other organs involved in IgG4-RD. Diagnosis
Diagnosis requires tissue biopsy of an affected organ with characteristic histological findings. Serum immunoglobulin G4 is often elevated but this is not always the case. Treatment
The goal of treatment is the induction and maintenance of remission so as to prevent progression of fibrosis and organ destruction in affected organ(s).