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Updated: Jan 23, 2026
In vivo Evaluation of Mucociliary Clearance in Mice
Published on: December 18, 2020
Mucociliary clearance in patients with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis
Alperen Vural1, İrfan Kara2, Furkan Şan2
1Erciyes University, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Kayseri, Turkey; University of Brescia, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Brescia, Italy.
Introduction:
Mucociliary clearance (MC) is a critical defense mechanism for the protection of the entire respiratory system. Nasal colonization of some pathogens and chronical nasal infections are important risk factors for peritonitis. Any disturbance in the MC causes stasis of secretions and secondary infections.
Objective:
The aim of the study was to evaluate the patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) in terms of nasal MC. More specifically, the goal is to investigate the possible correlation between the nasal MC and peritonitis.
Methods:
Forty CAPD patients and 39 healthy volunteers were involved in the study. The nasal MC was evaluated with the saccharin test, in which a 1mm diameter saccharin particle was carefully placed on the antero-medial surface of inferior nasal concha. The time taken by the subjects from the placement of particle to the perception of the sweet taste was taken as mucociliary clearance time (MCT). The groups were compared in terms of MCT. The patient group was evaluated in terms of a peritonitis history, and the correlations with MC were analyzed.
Results:
Patient group with CKD consisted of 16 females and 24 males with a mean age of 32.4 years; healthy individuals in the control group consisted of 17 women and 22 men with a mean age of 33.3 years. There was not a significant difference in terms of mean MC time in patients with CKD when compared with the individuals in the control group. The comparison between the mean MCT in the patients who had a history of peritonitis and patients without peritonitis was statistically significant (p<0.05).
Conclusions:
Unique for being conducted with patients in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, the current study shows that although the MC of CKD patients and healthy individuals is similar, patients with low rates of MC appear to present an increased incidence of peritoneal infection. Considering the small sample investigated, an invitation to future confirmatory studies would be appropriate.
Insights
Chronic kidney disease patients on dialysis show similar nasal mucociliary clearance (MC) to healthy individuals. However, impaired MC is linked to a higher risk of peritonitis in these patients.
Area of Science:
- Respiratory Physiology
- Nephrology
- Infectious Disease
Background:
- Mucociliary clearance (MC) is a vital respiratory defense mechanism.
- Disruptions in MC can lead to respiratory infections and pathogen colonization.
- Peritonitis is a risk factor associated with chronic nasal infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess nasal MC in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD).
- To investigate the correlation between nasal MC and the incidence of peritonitis in CAPD patients.
Main Methods:
- Saccharin test used to measure nasal mucociliary clearance time (MCT).
- Compared MCT in 40 CAPD patients and 39 healthy controls.
- Analyzed peritonitis history in CAPD patients and its relation to MC.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in mean MCT between CKD patients and healthy controls.
- A statistically significant difference in mean MCT was observed between CAPD patients with and without a history of peritonitis (p<0.05).
Conclusions:
- Nasal MC in CKD patients on CAPD is comparable to healthy individuals.
- Lower rates of nasal MC may be associated with an increased incidence of peritoneal infection.
- Further studies with larger sample sizes are recommended to confirm these findings.
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