IgG4ward! PeachJAM Video Series – “How Do I Know If My Disease Is Active?” with Dr. Matthew Baker

In this highly requested PeachJAM session, Dr. Matthew Baker, Stanford University, explains how clinicians determine whether IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is active.

Because IgG4-RD can affect many different organs, there is no single test that works for every patient. Instead, disease activity requires a full evaluation: symptoms, exam, imaging, labs, and—in specific cases—biopsy.

Dr. Baker walks through real patient examples involving the pancreas, aorta, kidneys, salivary glands, lungs, bile ducts, and more. He explains how to interpret trends in labs (IgG4, IgE, complement), how imaging changes signal inflammation, and why vigilance around small symptoms—like foamy urine—can make a meaningful difference.

This session offers practical guidance for patients, caregivers, and clinicians who want to better understand how IgG4-RD flares are detected, monitored, and treated.

📺 Watch the full PeachJAM Video 5 session above
📝 Read the companion blog post on IgG4ward!:

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Timestamps
00:00 – Welcome & Introduction
00:34 – Why “it depends”: no single test fits all
01:15 – How symptoms guide disease activity evaluation
02:10 – Lab markers: IgG4, complement, IgE, eosinophils
03:20 – Imaging options: CT, MRI, PET, gated cardiac CT
05:05 – Why imaging needs differ by organ
06:10 – Pancreas monitoring & lab trends
08:00 – Aortitis: silent symptoms and imaging needs
09:15 – Kidney involvement & unexpected flare signals
10:20 – multisystem disease case example
12:15 – When a new organ becomes involved
13:20 – Why “stable” imaging can still be a good sign
14:30 – Examples of improvement after treatment
16:05 – Treatment strategies: scheduled vs. watchful waiting
17:20 – Tailoring treatment to each individual
18:10 – The first IgG4-RD patient Dr. Baker ever saw
19:10 – Why context matters when interpreting lab results
20:00 – Early detection & digital tools question
21:30 – Importance of patient advocacy & awareness
22:45 – Patient question: kidney vs. pancreas flare
24:00 – Patient empowerment & diagnostics
25:00 – Closing thoughts