Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41741684›Full record

ArticleEuropean journal of human genetics : EJHG2026

Familial pneumothorax in twins with Tatton-Brown-Rahman DNMT3A overgrowth syndrome.

Sarju G Mehta, Simon Holden, Judith Babar, Sumit Karia, Maria T A Wetscherek, Allanah P Barker, Jessica White, Sunwoo Liv Lee, Alison Foster, Eamonn R Maher and 1 more

Abstract readCase Reports
In one paragraph

Article in European journal of human genetics : EJHG, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Sarju G MehtaCambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK. sarju.mehta@nhs.net.ORCID 0000-0003-0446-3435
Simon HoldenCambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK.ORCID 0009-0001-8314-5816
Judith BabarCambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK.
Sumit KariaCambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK.
Maria T A WetscherekCambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK.ORCID 0000-0003-2924-7587
Allanah P BarkerCambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK.ORCID 0009-0004-4660-9978
Jessica WhiteWest Suffolk Hospital, Bury Saint Edmunds, UK.
Sunwoo Liv LeeDepartment of Genomic Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.ORCID 0000-0003-2806-3268
Alison FosterClinical Genetics Unit, Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Trust, Birmingham, UK.
Eamonn R MaherCambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-6226-6918
Stefan J MarciniakCambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK. sjm20@cam.ac.uk.ORCID 0000-0001-8472-7183

Funding

RCUK | MRC | Medical Research Foundation MR/Y011813/1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Spontaneous pneumothorax is a common respiratory presentation that may signal underlying genetic disease. Familial pneumothorax occurs in ~10% of primary cases, yet 75% remain genetically unclassified. We report identical twin brothers presenting with spontaneous pneumothoraces in adulthood, leading to a diagnosis of Tatton-Brown-Rahman syndrome (TBRS), a DNMT3A-related overgrowth disorder not previously associated with pneumothorax. Both individuals exhibited tall stature, mild intellectual disability, hypermobility, and cardiac abnormalities. Whole genome sequencing identified a rare de novo DNMT3A missense variant (c.1585 G > A, p.D529N) absent from population databases and predicted to be damaging. Methylation profiling confirmed genome-wide hypomethylation consistent with impaired DNMT3A function, supporting pathogenicity. No variants were found in known familial pneumothorax genes. Apical blebs observed at surgery and connective tissue features suggest a mechanistic link between TBRS and pneumothorax, analogous to other monogenic connective tissue disorders. This case expands the phenotypic spectrum of TBRS and highlights the importance of genetic evaluation in familial pneumothorax. Diagnosis enables personalised care, including surveillance for extrapulmonary complications such as aortic root dilatation and haematological malignancy. Our findings suggest that TBRS should be considered in patients presenting with pneumothorax, tall stature, and neurodevelopmental features. Further cases are needed to confirm this association and refine clinical management strategies.

Indexed as

DNA (Cytosine-5-)-MethyltransferasesPneumothoraxAdultDNA Methyltransferase 3AHumansMaleMutation, MissensePhenotypeSyndromeTwins, MonozygoticDNA (Cytosine-5-)-MethyltransferasesDNA Methyltransferase 3ADNMT3A protein, human

Identifiers

PMID41741684
PMCPMC13172378

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.