[Results of nasal brushing in the study of ciliary conformation and function in chronic bronchopneumopathies in childhood].

UNLABELLED

For the frequent remark in childhood of relapsing bronchitis and/or broncho-pneumonic sickness we resolved to use for the differential diagnosis the nasal brushing method according to Rutland (for samples of ciliated epithelium from the deep surface of the inferior nasal turbinate using a 2 mm diameter nasal brush. The samples were used for ultrastructural study of cilia.

RESULTS

Children studied 22:14 (6-14) y.old with relapsing bronchitis, 4 with relapsing broncho-pneumonitis, 1 Nemaline myopathy (n.m.) with heavy respiratory insufficiency; 3 Werdnig Hoffmann syndromes (W.H.). Control group of 4 normal children. In the control group and 14 relapsing bronchitis normal tubular pattern (9 + 2) and ciliary conformation were present; in the relapsing broncho-pneumonic syndrome group, 2 children presented deficiency of some brace dynein arms = chronic inflammation; in the Nemaline myopathy we noted total lack of interior dynein arms with random cilia orientation; in the 3 W.H. = normal cilia conformation. The authors noted for the heavy respiratory insufficiency of the Nemaline myopathy the presence of immotile cilia and discuss possibility that in all Nemaline myopathy syndromes this association may be present (a new syndrome?). The W.H. myopathy is characterized by normal cilia aspects and the respiratory insufficiency is caused by muscular respiratory insufficiency secondary to anterior spinal corn horn. In the Nemaline myopathy the same genetic defect can act in muscular fibres and on dynain arms (cytoskeleton). The technique described is suitable for processing epithelial brushings from other parts of the respiratory tract.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)