[An unusual case of Kartagener's syndrome associated with rheumatoid arthritis]

We observed a 56-year-old woman with Kartagener's syndrome and severe seropositive rheumatoid arthritis. This is the third case of such association in the world literature and a second one being diagnosed in our Department. The patient was also as the previous one a carrier of HLA DR1 and B27 antigens. An electromicroscopic study showed normal bronchial cilia in contrast to classical course of the disease. A number of immunological disturbances were observed, especially defective granulocyte function. We suggest that the severe course of rheumatoid arthritis may be related to the chronic stimulation of immune system by microbes continuously present in the patients airways.