MUC5B minor allele tied to older age, better survival in IPF

In patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) aged >56 years, carrying the MUC5B minor allele translates to improved median transplant-free survival at 16 months, results of a retrospective study in Europe have shown.

“The minor T-allele of the MUC5B promoter polymorphism rs35705950 is strongly associated with IPF,” the authors said. “However, conflicting results have been reported on the relationship between the MUC5B minor allele and survival and it is unknown whether a specific subgroup of IPF patients might benefit from MUC5B minor allele carriage.”

A total of 1,751 patients with IPF from eight European centres participated in the study, which explored the association between MUC5B rs35705950, survival, and patient characteristics in a real-world setting. The authors examined MUC5B rs35705950 genotype, demographics, clinical characteristics at diagnosis, and survival data among participants.

After adjusting for age, sex, high resolution computed tomography pattern, smoking behaviour, and pulmonary functions tests in IPF, the MUC5B minor allele showed a significant and independent association with survival in multivariate analysis.

Patients carrying the MUC5B minor allele were significantly older at diagnosis (p=0.001). The percentage of these carriers increased substantially with age from 44 percent in patients aged <56 years to 63 percent in those aged >75 years.

In the <56-year group, MUC5B minor allele showed no association with survival. However, in IPF patients aged ≥56 years, carriers of the MUC5B minor allele had a significantly better survival (carriers compared to noncarriers: 45 vs 29 months; p=4 × 10⁻¹²).

“MUC5B genotype status might aid disease prognostication in clinical management of IPF patients,” the authors said.