This was a 62-year-old non-smoker female. Married with one child. She presented to the outpatient clinic (in October 2007) complaining of cough with abundant mucopurulent expectoration, many bronchitic exacerbations (> 3 episodes/yrs), recurrent cold, and progressively increasing breathlessness in the past 5 years. In her past history there were frequent visits for recurrent chest infections and pneumonia. At the time of the first visit, the vital parameters were within regular limits, whereas at thoracic auscultation bilateral crackles in the basal region were present. Basal spirometric evaluation showed moderate obstruction with positive reversibility test. Therapy with association of salmeterol/fluticasone was prescribed, with stabilization of respiratory values at the follow up visits. In 2008 the nasal brushing was performed, with demonstration of 100% of cilia lacking outer dynein arms (Figure ). In the last years she suffered of 2/3 exacerbations per year, without need of hospitalization.
This was a 40-year-old non-smoker female, married with two children. She was hospitalized in 2005 in another public hospital in which thoracic CT-scan was performed with diagnosis of KS. She attended our outpatient clinic in 2008, for a routine control visit prompted by his General Practitioner. Patient’s clinical history was characterized by recurrent cold, bronchitis and rhinorrhea since her childhood. At the time of the first visit, the vital parameters were within normal limits and thoracic auscultation yielded a normal finding without wheezing and/or crackles. Spirometric exam was within normal range. No therapy was necessary. In 2008 the nasal brushing was performed, with 100% of the cilia lacking inner dynein arms (Figure ). She suffered only few exacerbations (less than 1/yrs) without need of hospitalization. In the follow up visits respiratory function was stable and no bronchodilator therapy has been prescribed so far.