The immotile cilia syndrome--one cause of persistent upper respiratory tract infection.

Four patients with persistent recurrent upper respiratory tract infections are presented. Electron microscopic studies of respiratory mucosal biopsies from these patients reveal ultrastructural abnormalities of cilia consisting of partial to complete loss of dynein arms, radial spoke disruption, and compound cilia. The concept of immotile cilia as an important cause of recurrent infections is receiving more attention. This study stresses the need for simple, rapid screening tests for cilial activity followed by electron microscopic evaluation in selected cases.