The Kartagener syndrome--an electron microscopic studies of biopsied mucosa

We studied 43 tissue samples taken from patients (16 male and 27 women) with clinical diagnosis of Kartagener's syndrome. The specimens were fixed and prepared for transmission electron microscopy. After preliminary light microscopic examination 23 cases were qualified for ultrastructural studies. We found abnormal number of cilia on the bronchial mucosa cells. The ciliary structure was abnormal. In several cases we observed lack of inner and/or outer dynein arms, abnormal location of central microtubules, and abnormal number of microtubular doublets. Other findings were as follows: replacement of ciliated cells by goblet ones, mucosal edema and inflammatory infiltrate.