Kartageners syndrome: a report of six cases with special reference to humoral and cellular immunity.

4 men and 2 women presenting with Kartagener's syndrome were studied. Humoral and cellular immunity were evaluated by measuring immunoglobulin levels, total complement activity, C3, C4 and C5 levels, lymphocyte subpopulations, lymphoproliferative response to PHA, delayed hypersensitivity skin reactions and histocompatibility antigens. The in vitro tests for cellular and humoral immunity showed normal results, or only transitory alterations. However, the in vivo tests clearly showed a decrease in the delayed response in the skin tests using bacterial and mycotic antigens and PPD. In two siblings the HLA typing showed identical haplotypes. The results are presented taking into account the new physiopathogenetic concepts of Karagener's syndrome with respect to dysfunction of the ciliated columnar epithelium and chemotactic defects of the nonciliated blood cells found in these patients.