Objective To investigate the correlation of preoperative serum IgG4 level with the recurrence of patients with Crohn's disease after ileocolectomy. Methods A total of 119 patients with Crohn's disease receiving ileocolectomy were enrolled. All patients were followed up for 5 years after surgery, and the recurrence conditions were recorded. The COX regression model was used to analyze the independent influencing factors for the recurrence of patients with Crohn's disease after ileocolectomy. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and decision analysis curve were drawn to analyze the predictive value and net benefit rate of preoperative serum IgG4 level and other influencing factors for the recurrence of patients with Crohn's disease after ileocolectomy. The correlation of preoperative serum IgG4 level with preoperative Crohn's disease activity index and partial inflammatory indices was analyzed. Results The results of multivariate COX regression analysis revealed that preoperative serum IgG4, C⁃reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF⁃α) levels, and Crohn's disease activity index were the independent influencing factors for the recurrence of patients with Crohn's disease after ileocolectomy (P<0.05), therein for every 1 g/L increase in preoperative serum IgG4 level, the recurrence risk of patients with Crohn's disease after ileocolectomy increased by 1.255 times. The results of ROC curve analysis indicated that areas under the curve (AUC) of preoperative serum IgG4, CRP, TNF⁃α levels and Crohn's disease activity index for predicting the recurrence of patients with Crohn's disease after ileocolectomy were 0.724-0.864, exerting favorable net benefits; in addition, AUC predicted by the combination of the 4 indices (0.952) and overall net benefit were superior to any single index. Preoperative serum IgG4 level positively correlated with preoperative serum CRP and TNF⁃α levels, as well as Crohn's disease activity index (P<0.05). Conclusion Preoperative serum IgG4 level is closely related to the recurrence of patients with Crohn's disease after ileocolectomy, which is helpful to postoperative recurrence risk evaluation in patients.