[Cartagener syndrome. Pathogenesis and therapy]

Kartagener's syndrome (situs inversus totalis, bronchiectasis and sinusitis) was demonstrated in two patients. Electron microscopic investigations of the bronchial epithelium showed an accidental arrangement of ciliary axes, but not the expected lack of dynein arms. In both cases severe disturbance of maturation of spermiogenesis, not noted in this syndrome so far, was observed. Whereas one patient is largely free of symptoms after two operations, the other died after the second operation as a consequence of bronchopleural fistulation and bilateral pneumonic complications.