Simultaneous left-sided, primary, spontaneous pneumothorax in identical twins

Background: This case report describes the unusual appearance of stimultaneous left, primary, spontaneous pneumothorax in identical twins in Temuco, Chile. Case Report: Bullectomy and abrasive pleurodesis by video-assisted thoracoscopy was performed on one of the twins. The second twin was observed conservatively. Both were nonsmokers and had normal alfa 1 antitripsine values and identical human leukocyte antigen haplotypes. Contralateral pnenomothorax occurred in the twin treated by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery after three years, and ipsilateral pneumothorax occurred in the second twin after two years. Conclusion: Neither the conservative nor the invasive treatment by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery avoided recurrence. The inheritance of familial spontaneous pneumothorax is not well known. Autosomal dominant and recessive inheritance were proposed but not proven, and an association with human leukocyte antigen haplotypes is uncertain. Further studies are needed to know the mode of inheritance.