Phenotype and genotype of 87 patients with Mowat–Wilson syndrome and recommendations for care

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

  • Ivan Ivanovski
  • Olivera Djuric
  • Stefano Giuseppe Caraffi
  • Daniela Santodirocco
  • Marzia Pollazzon
  • Simonetta Rosato
  • Duccio Maria Cordelli
  • Ebtesam Abdalla
  • Patrizia Accorsi
  • Margaret P. Adam
  • Paola Francesca Ajmone
  • Magdalena Badura-Stronka
  • Chiara Baldo
  • Maddalena Baldi
  • Stefania Bigoni
  • Federico Bonvicini
  • Jeroen Breckpot
  • Bert Callewaert
  • Guido Cocchi
  • Goran Cuturilo
  • Daniele De Brasi
  • Koenraad Devriendt
  • Mary Beth Dinulos
  • Roberta Epifanio
  • Francesca Faravelli
  • Agata Fiumara
  • Debora Formisano
  • Lucio Giordano
  • Marina Grasso
  • Sabine Grønborg
  • Alessandro Iodice
  • Lorenzo Iughetti
  • Vladimir Kuburovic
  • Anna Kutkowska-Kazmierczak
  • Didier Lacombe
  • Caterina Lo Rizzo
  • Anna Luchetti
  • Baris Malbora
  • Isabella Mammi
  • Francesca Mari
  • Giulia Montorsi
  • Sebastien Moutton
  • Rikke S. Møller
  • Petra Muschke
  • Ewa Obersztyn
  • Chiara Pantaleoni
  • Alessandro Pellicciari

Purpose: Mowat–Wilson syndrome (MWS) is a rare intellectual disability/multiple congenital anomalies syndrome caused by heterozygous mutation of the ZEB2 gene. It is generally underestimated because its rarity and phenotypic variability sometimes make it difficult to recognize. Here, we aimed to better delineate the phenotype, natural history, and genotype–phenotype correlations of MWS. Methods: In a collaborative study, we analyzed clinical data for 87 patients with molecularly confirmed diagnosis. We described the prevalence of all clinical aspects, including attainment of neurodevelopmental milestones, and compared the data with the various types of underlying ZEB2 pathogenic variations. Results: All anthropometric, somatic, and behavioral features reported here outline a variable but highly consistent phenotype. By presenting the most comprehensive evaluation of MWS to date, we define its clinical evolution occurring with age and derive suggestions for patient management. Furthermore, we observe that its severity correlates with the kind of ZEB2 variation involved, ranging from ZEB2 locus deletions, associated with severe phenotypes, to rare nonmissense intragenic mutations predicted to preserve some ZEB2 protein functionality, accompanying milder clinical presentations. Conclusion: Knowledge of the phenotypic spectrum of MWS and its correlation with the genotype will improve its detection rate and the prediction of its features, thus improving patient care.

Original languageEnglish
JournalGenetics in Medicine
Volume20
Issue number9
Pages (from-to)965-975
Number of pages11
ISSN1098-3600
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Sep 2018

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2018, American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics.

    Research areas

  • Hirschsprung, intellectual disability, management, Mowat–Wilson syndrome, ZEB2

ID: 389734160