Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia Complicated by Stroke in an Elderly Male: A Case Report

Kartagener syndrome (KS) is an uncommon hereditary disorder, featuring situs inversus, chronic sinusitis, and bronchiectasis. Our case report presents a 60-year-old Asian male with KS who was incidentally diagnosed with KS upon presenting with an ischemic cerebrovascular accident (CVA). The patient had a longstanding history of poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension, presenting with acute right-sided weakness and speech impairment. His history of recurrent respiratory infections and infertility, combined with family findings of dextrocardia and male infertility, suggested KS. On physical examination, the patient exhibited signs of dextrocardia. Imaging confirmed situs inversus and dextrocardia, while neurological evaluation revealed an embolic stroke in the left middle cerebral artery territory. Certain cardiovascular anomalies in KS may affect stroke risk; however, their co-occurrence in the patient appears to be coincidental, given the patient's baseline risk for stroke. A high-resolution chest CT demonstrated bronchiectasis and carotid Doppler ultrasound identified atherosclerotic plaques, likely contributing to the stroke. This case highlights the need for heightened awareness of neurological events, such as stroke, in patients with KS. Cardiovascular risk factors, compounded by the complexity of the syndrome, require prompt evaluation and multidisciplinary care to prevent severe complications.