A case of vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome presenting as spontaneous hemothorax and recurrent pneumothorax
Yoshiko Ishiokaa Toshihiro Shiratorib Kageaki Taimaa Masamichi Itogaa Shujiro Hayashic Sadatomo Tasakaa
aDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine
bDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Hachinohe City Hospital
cDepartment of Dermatology, Dokkyo Medical University School of Medicine
A 22-year-old man with a history of spontaneous pneumothorax visited a local hospital complaining of dyspnea. He was diagnosed with hemothorax by computed tomography (CT) with a consolidation and pleural effusion in the right lung. After 6 days, pleural effusion had increased, suggesting that bleeding continued. He was referred to our hospital for further examination. A thoracoscopic examination was performed, but no apparent bleeding was observed. Because his condition had improved, the patient was discharged. One month later, however, he developed left pneumothorax, requiring surgery. Since the surgical specimen was fragile and difficult to hold, we suspected vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (vEDS) that was also suggested by his medical and family history. A genetic test revealed a COL3A1 mutation, which confirmed the diagnosis. vEDS should be considered in a case of repeated pneumothorax and hemothorax in a young non-smoking patient.
Vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (vEDS) Pneumothorax Hemothorax Type III collagen
Received 15 Jun 2020 / Accepted 21 Jul 2020
AJRS, 9(6): 473-476, 2020