Recurrent primary spontaneous pneumothorax in a large Chinese family: a clinical and genetic investigation / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

Background@#Primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) is a common manifestation of Birt-Hogg-Dubé (BHD) syndrome, which is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by mutation of the folliculin (FLCN) gene. This study was established to investigate the mutation of the FLCN gene and the phenotype in a family with PSP.@*Methods@#We investigated the clinical and genetic characteristics of a large Chinese family with recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax. Genetic testing was performed by Sanger sequencing of the coding exons (4-14 exons) of the FLCN gene.@*Results@#Among ten affected members in a multi-generational PSP kindred, with a total of 18 episodes of spontaneous pneumothorax, the median age for the initial onset of pneumothorax was 42.5 years (interquartile range: 28.8-57.2 years). Chest computed tomography scan of the proband showed pulmonary cysts and pneumothorax. A novel nonsense mutation (c.1273C>T) in exon 11 of FLCN gene that leads to a pre-mature stop codon (p.Gln425*) was identified in the family. The genetic analysis confirmed the diagnosis of BHD syndrome in this family in the absence of skin lesions or renal tumors.@*Conclusions@#A novel nonsense mutation of FLCN gene was found in a large family with PSP in China. Our results expand the mutational spectrum of FLCN gene in patients with BHD syndrome.

Birt-Hogg-Dubé Syndrome Manifesting as Spontaneous Pneumothorax: A Novel Mutation of the Folliculin Gene

Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome (BHDS) is a rare disease with autosomal dominant inheritance that manifests through skin tumors, pulmonary cystic lesions, and renal tumors. A mutation of FLCN located on chromosome 17p11.2, which encodes a tumor-suppressor protein (folliculin), is responsible for the development of BHDS. We report the case of a patient presenting with spontaneous pneumothorax, in whom a familial genetic study revealed a novel nonsense mutation: p.(Arg379*) in FLCN.

Birt-Hogg-Dubé Syndrome Manifesting as Spontaneous Pneumothorax: A Novel Mutation of the Folliculin Gene

Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome (BHDS) is a rare disease with autosomal dominant inheritance that manifests through skin tumors, pulmonary cystic lesions, and renal tumors. A mutation of FLCN located on chromosome 17p11.2, which encodes a tumor-suppressor protein (folliculin), is responsible for the development of BHDS. We report the case of a patient presenting with spontaneous pneumothorax, in whom a familial genetic study revealed a novel nonsense mutation: p.(Arg379*) in FLCN.

Birt-Hogg-Dube syndrome incidentally diagnosed during asthma management

Birt-Hogg-Dube (BHD) syndrome is an autosomal dominant hereditary disorder characterized by 3 clinical manifestations, including skin fibrofolliculomas, multiple pulmonary cysts with or without spontaneous pneumothorax, and spontaneous renal tumor. A 60-year-old Korean male who had suffered from bronchial asthma incidentally diagnosed with multiple pulmonary cysts by computed tomography during a regular follow-up. Genetic studies revealed folliculin gene mutation that was a confirmative finding of BHD syndrome. Although this case showed no cutaneous manifestations or renal abnormality, genetic studies of his family and regular follow-up are recommended.

A Case of Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax with a Three Nucleotide Deletion Mutation of the FLCN Gene / 대한흉부외과학회지

The cause of primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) is obvious. Recently, the FLCN mutation was suggested to be a causal factor in PSP. A 47-year-old Korean male patient with chief complaint of repetitive PSP had numerous emphysematous bullae and multiple large cysts based upon high resolution computer tomography. Here we report a case of PSP with an FLCN c.468_470delTTC mutation.