Risk and Clinical Significance of Idiopathic Preterm Birth in Microvillus Inclusion Disease

Microvillus inclusion disease (MVID) is a rare enteropathy caused by mutations in the MYO5B or STX3 gene. MVID is a disease that is difficult to manage with clinical heterogeneity. Therefore, knowledge about factors influencing MVID morbidity and mortality is urgently needed. Triggered by a recent study that reported a high percentage of preterm births in twelve cases of MVID, we have conducted a comprehensive retrospective study involving 88 cases of MVID with reported gestational ages. We found that moderate to late preterm birth occurred in more than half of all cases, and this was particularly prominent in MYO5B-associated MVID. Preterm birth in MVID counterintuitively correlated with higher birth weight percentiles, and correlated with higher stool outputs and a significantly shorter average survival time. Data from this study thus demonstrate an increased risk of preterm birth in MYO5B-associated MVID, with a clinical impact on morbidity and mortality. Adverse effects associated with preterm birth should be taken into account in the care of children diagnosed with MVID. Documentation of gestational age may contribute to a better prognostic risk assessment in MVID.