Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 21, 2026

Intravital Imaging of Intraepithelial Lymphocytes in Murine Small Intestine
Published on: June 24, 2019
Microvillous inclusion disease
Rūta Kucinskiene1, Dainius Janciauskas, Antanas Puzas
1Clinic of Children Diseases, Kaunas University of Medicine Hospital, 50010 Kaunas, Lithuania. rutadr@sala.lt
Insights
Congenital intestinal defects can cause severe neonatal diarrhea. Microvillous inclusion disease, a rare condition, requires intestinal transplantation for treatment.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Pediatric Surgery
- Histopathology
Background:
- Congenital intestinal mucosal defects can lead to severe neonatal diarrhea.
- Protracted secretory diarrhea in newborns often has poor outcomes without intestinal transplantation.
Observation:
- A case of a newborn female with severe protracted secretory diarrhea after breast milk intake is presented.
- The infant experienced severe dehydration and metabolic acidosis despite medical interventions.
Findings:
- Endoscopic biopsies revealed pathological mucosa with total microvillous atrophy.
- Histological examination showed thinned epithelium and PAS positivity, indicative of microvillous inclusion disease.
Implications:
- Microvillous inclusion disease is a rare congenital condition.
- Diagnosis necessitates total parenteral nutrition and consideration of intestinal transplantation.
- Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial for managing this severe neonatal condition.
Abstract:
Congenital defects in the intestinal mucosa can provoke diarrhea in the neonatal period. This kind of diarrhea is difficult to treat and the outcome is bad if intestinal transplantation is not done. We describe the case of newborn female with severe protracted secretory diarrhea, which started after first oral intake of breast milk. The newborn presented with severe dehydration and persistent metabolic acidosis though potential treatment was not stopped. Endoscopy with the biopsies from the distal part of duodenum mucosa was done on the third week of life. Histological examination revealed the pathological mucosa with the total microvillous atrophy, surface epithelium thinning and histochemical PAS (Periodic acid-Schiff reaction) positivity of enterocytes apical region. These changes are typical for rare microvillous inclusion disease. When the diagnosis of microvillous inclusion disease is made, the only treatment is total parenteral nutrition and intestinal transplantation.
Related Concept Videos
Intralumenal Vesicles and Multivesicular Bodies
Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Introduction
Cytomegalovirus Disease
Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Crohn's Disease
Microvilli
These microvilli are predominantly present in cells lining the small intestine, kidney tubules, and certain cells in the respiratory and reproductive systems. By significantly expanding the surface area of the cell membrane, microvilli enhance the cell's capacity to...
Inflammatory Bowel Disease IV: Clinical Manifestations
