[Immotile cilia syndrome--ultrastructural deviations of the nasal cilia]. / Immotile-cilia syndroom--ultrastructurele afwijkingen van de neusciliën.

This study deals with a transmission electron microscopic examination of the nose cilia. Dyskinetic or dysfunctional cilia result clinically in the immotile-cilia syndrome. Differentiation between congenital and acquired anomalies is important. An early diagnosis as part of the therapeutic approach should be considered.

Neonatal diagnosis of the immotile cilia syndrome.

The immotile cilia syndrome is an inherited disorder characterized by inappropriate motility of the cilia. The clinical symptoms include recurrent sinopulmonary infections and reduced fertility. In about half of the cases, situs inversus is encountered. The case presented is of a two-day-old boy in whom diagnosis was based on ultrastructural abnormalities. Early diagnosis permitted immediate symptomatic treatment and an absence of infections during a 37-month period of observation. Nasal biopsies performed in six newborns with various degrees of respiratory distress secondary to classic neonatal respiratory problems and in a healthy one-day-old newborn demonstrated the presence of normal ciliary structures at birth. In cases without situs inversus, diagnosis of the immotile cilia syndrome may be difficult. The importance of early diagnosis and management is stressed; the ultrastructural abnormalities are present at birth in newborns with the immotile cilia syndrome.

[Transmission electron microscopy study of the nasal cilia]. / Transmissie-electronenmicroscopisch onderzoek van de neusciliën.

The authors draw the attention on the existence of dyskinetic and immotile cilia in patients with chronic respiratory infections of unknown origin. The study of the ultrastructure of the ciliae is done by a transmission electron microscope. It is very important to make a difference between primary and acquired anomalies. Furthermore, the authors emphasize the importance of early diagnosis in view of a treatment.