[Studies on HLA typing in a family line with spontaneous pneumothorax]

Our patient with spontaneous pneumothorax is the oldest brother of 3 siblings. Pneumothorax had occurred in his younger sister and in 3 of his mother's 4 siblings also. Namely, pneumothorax had occurred in 5 (including our patient) of 7 persons, family line on mother's side, and thoracotomy had been performed in 3 of them. Two cases in which operative findings were obtained were introduced. Next, HLA and alpha 1-antitrypsin (alpha 1-AT) were determined in this family line. As the result, the alpha 1-AT all remained in the normal range and HLA typing was not in a special relation to the occurrence of pneumothorax in this family line.