[Functional nasal tests for the evaluation of the mucociliary transport].

A study was made of a noninvasive functional test of mucociliary clearance using micronized indigo blue colorant, which is insoluble in airway secretions. Transport time to the nasopharynx was measured optically with an endoscope. This method was more objective and less irritating than others tested by other authors. Measurements were made in each subject using different endoscopes. The results were highly suggestive of a difference in nasal mucociliary clearance time between healthy and unhealthy subjects. This may mean that chronic inflammation, atrophic rhitis, dyskinesia, and other diseases lead to malfunction of the nasal mucociliary system.