To patients and caregivers
The heart of the IgG4ward! Foundation is to serve patients and caregivers managing life with IgG4-RD. Our resources are meant to educate, inform, empower, create connection, and most importantly, inspire hope. We are so glad you are here.
To patients and caregivers
The heart of the IgG4ward! Foundation is to serve patients and caregivers managing life with IgG4-RD. Our resources are meant to educate, inform, empower, create connection, and most importantly, inspire hope. We are so glad you are here.
How can we help?
Trustworthy, accurate information can be difficult to come by when dealing with a rare disease. We're here to become your home for all things related to your journey with IgG4-RD.
Understand more about IgG4-RD
Explore our comprehensive online education program.
Hear IgG4-RD patient stories.
Watch videos, webinars and download guides.
Connect with others with IgG4-RD.
Join our online community via mobile app or desktop.
Access helpful IgG4-RD resources.
Discover a full library of the latest research, clinical trials, and updates.
Find a doctor specializing in IgG4-RD.
Search our physician network to find a doctor well versed in IgG4-RD.
Understand more about IgG4-RD
Explore our comprehensive online education program.
Hear IgG4-RD patient stories.
Watch videos, webinars and download guides.
Connect with others with IgG4-RD.
Join our online community via mobile app or desktop.
Access helpful IgG4-RD resources.
Discover a full library of the latest research, clinical trials, and updates.
Find a doctor specializing in IgG4-RD.
Search our physician network to find a doctor well versed in IgG4-RD.
What is IgG4-Related Disease?
IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is an immune-mediated condition that can involve nearly any organ in the body. It causes inflammation and symptoms that can mimic other illnesses, which can delay a clear diagnosis and timely, effective treatment.
The condition can cause swelling, lumps, or scarring in different organs, which is why it can resemble infections, cancers, or other autoimmune diseases. This overlap often makes diagnosis challenging. Experts believe IgG4-RD stems from an overactive immune response involving specific immune cells and antibodies. With timely recognition and treatment, many people do well on steroids or targeted therapies that calm the immune system and protect affected tissues.
Learn everything we know about IgG4RD
We believe well-informed patients and caregivers feel empowered to better manage life with IgG4-RD. That's why we launched the only online education program dedicated to this disease, IgG4ward! Academy. Each chapter was created by the global community of doctors who are the leading experts on IgG4-RD. The program is communicated in plain language, not doctor-speak, and you set the pace. The program includes:
An overview of IgG4-RD
Organ-specific lessons (Rolling out more each month)
Topics that cover diagnosis, treatment, and managing day-to-day life
Practical, downloadable guides
Sign up to keep up-to-date with the latest events and webinars
When you sign up to receive emails you can expect announcements, stories, news, research updates, fundraising activities, and event schedules and itineraries to come right to your inbox. This is one of the best ways to stay up to date on all things IgG4-RD.
We are stronger together.
Part of our mission is to build a global IgG4-RD community because we have seen how human connection promotes belonging and even a sense of healing.
We have many ways to engage with the growing IgG4ward! community, so we hope you find the one that is right for you. We encourage everyone to join our easy-to-use mobile app as it's the only online community focused solely on IgG4-RD. But there are also a variety of social media channels, live events, our email newsletter, and frequent online webinars in which to participate.
Make new connections
Connecting with more people managing IgG4-RD can open a whole new world of support and sense of belonging.
Chats of all sizes
We are all in this together, and the new app allows us to chat as one big community. But you can also start smaller chats with only those who best reflect your unique journey. You can even chat 1:1.
Choose how you engage
Whether you plan to fully engage in the community or you prefer to observe more than participate, you can manage the app settings and notifications to your liking. The choice is yours.
Practical resources to make life easier
We interact with so many patients and many of our board members are patients and caregivers, so we know there are real challenges in the simple management and administrative side of living with IgG4-RD.
Our growing pool of tools, guidelines and educational programs is meant to tackle some of the pain points in navigating your journey.
IgG4ward! Academy (Coming soon!)
Say goodbye to repeating yourself to every doctor.
Our IgG4ME! app puts your full medical story in your pocket.
Get the appFind a doctor versed in IgG4-RD
As a rare disease you will likely encounter healthcare professionals who lack awareness of IgG4-RD. Review our global network of doctors who are well-versed in IgG4-RD to see if we can connect you.
Search doctor network
Find a doctor versed in IgG4-RD
As a rare disease you will likely encounter healthcare professionals who lack awareness of IgG4-RD. Review our global network of doctors who are well-versed in IgG4-RD to see if we can connect you.
Search doctor network