title: Simultaneous left-sided, primary, spontaneous pneumothorax in identical twins.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This case report describes the unusual appearance of simultaneous left, primary, spontaneous pneumothorax in identical twins in Temuco, Chile.
  
  
  METHODS
  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 pneumothorax occurred in the twin treated by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery after three years, and ipsilateral pneumothorax occurred in the second twin after two years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Head of the Respiratory Division, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de la Frontera Temuco, Chile. eureka@telsur.cl
authors.forename: Constanza
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Castillo
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baquerizo
authors.forename: Patricio
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Iwamoto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D004200:Diseases in Twins; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic