The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Sep 2003
Ciliary beat pattern is associated with specific ultrastructural defects in primary ciliary dyskinesia.
The main symptoms of primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) are nasal rhinorrhea or blockage and moist-sounding cough. Diagnosis can be difficult and is based on an abnormal ciliary beat frequency, accompanied by specific abnormalities of the ciliary axoneme. It is unknown whether determining ciliary beat pattern related to specific ultrastructural ciliary defects might help in the diagnosis of PCD. ⋯ Different ultrastructural defects responsible for PCD result in predictable beat patterns. Recognition of these might help in the diagnostic evaluation of patients suspected of having PCD.