Simplified cell culture method for the diagnosis of atypical primary ciliary dyskinesia.

BACKGROUND

The diagnosis of primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) can be challenging, and it may be particularly difficult to distinguish primary ciliary disease from the secondary changes after infections.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of the study was to evaluate if nasal epithelial cells, obtained with nasal brushing instead of a biopsy, could be used in a culture system for the diagnosis of PCD in difficult cases.

METHODS AND MAIN RESULTS

Ciliary motion analysis (CMA) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were performed on 59 subjects with persistent or recurrent pneumonia. These investigations allowed the diagnosis of PCD in 13 (22%) patients while the defect of the cilia was considered secondary to infections in 37 (63%) subjects. In the remaining nine (15%) patients the diagnostic evaluation with CMA and TEM remained inconclusive. Ciliogenesis in culture allowed the diagnosis of PCD in four of these patients, it was indicative of a secondary defect in two subjects, and it was not helpful in the remaining three patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Culture of cells obtained with brushing of the nasal turbinate is not a perfect test, nevertheless it may offer diagnostic help in doubtful cases of PCD.