Lack of cilia and squamous metaplasia in upper respiratory tract biopsies from children.
Biopsies were obtained from 47 children with upper respiratory tract infection aged 30 days - 12 years. All had been extensively investigated and no underlying cause for their symptoms could be found. A total of 63 specimens (46 from the inferior nasal turbinate, 8 from the trachea and 9 from the carina or bronchus) were examined. Only 4 showed no degree of squamous metaplasia and 8 showed significant numbers of acquired-type morphological abnormalities of the cilia. Twenty-six of the 63 biopsies had significantly reduced numbers of cilia and 34 had no cilia. Inherited-type changes were seen in only 1 patient. The net result of a lack of cilia and the immotile-cilia syndrome is the same--absence of mucociliary transport.
Phillips
J I
JI
Department of Anatomical Pathology, School of Pathology, South African Institute for Medical Research, Johannesburg.
D001706:Biopsy; D001980:Bronchi / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002923:Cilia / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008679:Metaplasia; D009079:Mucociliary Clearance; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000473:pathology*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000473:pathology*; D014132:Trachea / Q000648:ultrastructure