[The sick cilia syndrome].

The incidence of bronchiectasis should decrease because of improved immunization, but certain defects would still cause the malady. Fifteen consecutive patients with bronchiectasis were examined for ciliary defects by examining the nasal mucosae with an electron microscope and measuring the clearance of technetium-99m from the lung with a gamma camera. Three patients were found to have defects. Compound cilia, disorganization of the tubular structure, vacuolization and deficient inner dynein arms were observed. In one patient a loss of cell membranes which returned to normal after 4 months, was observed. Ciliary abnormalitites can either be anatomical or physiological and 'sick cilia' should be considered as a cause of bronchiectasis.