title: Coronary artery disease in identical twins.
abstract: The incidence of coronary artery disease in identical twins is unknown. The knowledge of ischemic heart disease in this patient population is represented by case reports. There is considerable controversy regarding the environmental and genetic factors that play a role in the pathogenesis of this disorder. The natural history of coronary artery disease in an asymptomatic twin with a symptomatic counterpart is unclear. We present a case report and literature review of coronary artery disease in identical twins. On the basis of our patient and the information of other patients, asymptomatic twins of symptomatic counterparts require aggressive assessment and management for occult coronary artery disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Hahnemann University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102-1192, USA.
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Samuels
authors.forename: F S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Samuels
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Wechsler
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000601:surgery; D004200:Diseases in Twins / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D018433:Twin Studies as Topic; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic