A Prospective Cohort Study of Idiopathic Retroperitoneal Fibrosis in China

Idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis（IRPF） is a rare fibro-inflammatory disease that develops around the abdominal aorta and the iliac arteries, and spreads into the adjacent retroperitoneum, where it frequently causes ureteral obstruction and renal failure. The clinical phenotype of RPF is complex, because it can be associated with fibro-inflammatory disorders involving other organs, and often arises in patients with other autoimmune conditions.

This prospective cohort aims to study presentations of IRPF with laboratory findings and imagings throughout the disease course. Newly diagnosed IRPF patients will be recruited from all over the China.

Inclusion criteria: patients with definite, possible IRPF will be recruited.Definite IRPF must have the following characteristics: (1) The typical finding of Imaging shows retroperitoneal mass, surrounding the abdominal aorta and iliac arteries, with encasement of ureters and/or organ dysfunction; (2) Exclusion of disease progression after standard glucocorticoid treatment; and (3) histopathological findings shows a fibrous tissue with signs of chronic inflammation. The inflammatory component is comprised of lymphocytes, plasma cells and macrophages. Neutrophils and granulomas are rare findings. Possible IRPF required (1) and (2), but without histopathological examination.

Exclusion criteria: patients with malignancy or other autoimmune diseases are excluded. Secondary forms of RPF related to drugs, infections, malignancies, Erdheim-Chester disease and IgG4-RD, need to be excluded.

The data will be uploaded through the platform of Chinese Rheumatology Information Platform. Demographic data, initial symptoms, disease duration, and physical examination, organ involvements, laboratory findings, radiological and pathological results, as well as treatment, side effects will be recorded.