Nasal cilia in normal man, primary ciliary dyskinesia and other respiratory diseases: analysis of motility and ultrastructure.

We studied the ultrastructure and function of nasal cilia from non-atopic and atopic non-smokers, smokers, patients with chronic rhinitis and cystic fibrosis, and compared these to cilia from patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD). Atypical cilia were found in normal subjects and patients with a variety of chronic respiratory tract diseases, but the proportion was small (less than 5%). Ciliary wave form, beat frequency, and mucociliary …