[Nasal mucociliary transport time and ciliary beat frequency in healthy probands and patients with sinusitis]

The mucociliary system is an important defence mechanism of the respiratory tract. It depends on the interaction between cilia and mucus. To evaluate the value of the saccharin test and a photoelectrical in-vitro method for measurement of ciliary beat frequency for clinical routine diagnosis, we studied twenty patients suffering from acute sinusitis (aged 19-64) and twenty healthy non-smokers (aged 19-50). The nasal mucociliary transport time of saccharin was significantly higher (p < or = 0.01) and the ciliary beat frequency was significantly lower (p < or = 0.001) in patients with acute sinusitis, compared to normals. There was no correlation between nasal mucociliary transport time and ciliary beat frequency in patients with acute sinusitis (r = 0.21) and in healthy non-smokers (r = -0.37). Nasal mucociliary transport time of saccharin and photoelectrical in-vitro method for measurement of ciliary beat frequency measure different aspects of the mucociliary system. They are complementary. Both methods can be carried out together in routine diagnosis.