The role of telomerase in the etiology of primary spontaneous pneumothorax.

BACKGROUND

This study aims to investigate the role of telomerase activity in the risk of primary spontaneous pneumothorax, which is most frequently encountered in the practice of thoracic surgery.

METHODS

A total of 61 patients (56 males, 5 females; median age: 29.4 years; range, 17 to 43 years) who underwent treatment for primary spontaneous pneumothorax and 19 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (10 males, 9 females; median age: 29.1 years; range, 23 to 43 years) were included in this prospective study between January 2018 - August 2018. Telomerase activity was evaluated with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The correlation between telomerase activity and clinical and demographic parameters was examined.

RESULTS

The mean serum telomerase level was 3.4±0.6 ng/mL in the primary spontaneous pneumothorax group and 1.9±0.5 ng/mL in the control group, indicating significantly higher levels in the patient group (p<0.001). There was no significant association between the telomerase levels and presence of blebs and/or bullae on thoracic computed tomography, extent of pneumothorax, laterality (right, left, or bilateral), and pack years of cigarette smoking.

CONCLUSION

Telomerase levels of patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax are significantly higher than healthy individuals. Future genetic studies may ultimately clarify a potential relationship between primary spontaneous pneumothorax and short telomere syndrome.