Medpedia

Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD) is a term for inherited disorders of the structure and/or function of cilia. The disorders include PCD with situs inversus (also known as Kartagener syndrome), PCD without situs inversus and ciliary aplasia. It has also been called immotile cilia syndrome.

People with PCD do not have functioning cilia. Their cilia may be completely paralyzed (immotile cilia), beat inadequately or in an ineffective fashion (dyskinetic cilia), or may not have developed at all (ciliary aplasia). Without functioning cilia, people with PCD are unable to protect their respiratory system. Frequent infections of the lungs, ears, throat, and sinuses are common.