Bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax in systemic sclerosis--report of two cases

We describe 2 patients with systemic sclerosis who developed bilateral spontaneous pneumothoraces. Though unilateral spontaneous pneumothorax has been described, the problem has not been emphasized recently and the complication of bilateral spontaneous pneumothoraces has not been documented. Treatment of the pneumothorax is difficult and reexpansion of the lung is slow. This complication is associated with a poor prognosis as both patients had severe respiratory impairment and one died shortly afterwards.