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$Unique_ID{BRK03893}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Kartagener Syndrome}
$Subject{Kartagener Syndrome Kartagener Triad Situs Inversus, Bronchiectasis
and Sinusitis Dextrocardia, Bronchiectasis and Sinusitis Siewert Syndrome
Chronic Sinobronchial Disease and Dextrocardia Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia
Immotile Cilia Syndrome Fibrosing Alveolitis Bronchiectasis, Congenital and
Acquired }
$Volume{}
$Log{}
Copyright (C) 1988, 1989 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.
526:
Kartagener Syndrome
** IMPORTANT **
It is possible the main title of the article (Kartagener Syndrome) is not
the name you expected. Please check the SYNONYMS listing on the next page to
find alternate names and disorder subdivisions covered by this article.
Synonyms
Kartagener Triad
Situs Inversus, Bronchiectasis and Sinusitis
Dextrocardia, Bronchiectasis and Sinusitis
Siewert Syndrome
Chronic Sinobronchial Disease and Dextrocardia
Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia
Information on the following diseases can be found in the Related
Disorders section of this report:
Immotile Cilia Syndrome
Fibrosing Alveolitis
Bronchiectasis, Congenital and Acquired
General Discussion
** REMINDER **
The information contained in the Rare Disease Database is provided for
educational purposes only. It should not be used for diagnostic or treatment
purposes. If you wish to obtain more information about this disorder, please
contact your personal physician and/or the agencies listed in the "Resources"
section of this report.
Kartagener Syndrome is a genetic disorder combining three major symptoms.
These include chronic enlargement of the bronchial tubes (bronchiectasis),
chronic inflammation of the lining of the sinuses (sinusitis), and abnormal
cross-positioning of body organs during prenatal development (situs
inversus).
Symptoms
Kartagener Syndrome begins before birth and is characterized by three major
symptoms: chronic enlargement of the bronchial tubes (bronchiectasis),
chronic inflammation of the lining of the sinuses (sinusitis) and abnormal
cross-positioning of body organs during prenatal development (situs
inversus). Symptoms usually become apparent during early infancy and
continue into adulthood. Chronic sinusitis occurs, caused by an inability to
clear mucous from the sinuses. Hearing loss can occur in some cases because
of recurrent ear infections and possible inner ear abnormalities. Poor
clearance of mucous from the lungs often leads to development of coughing and
chronic bronchitis. Bronchiectasis may then develop because of recurrent
infections over a period of two to three years.
Situs Inversus can be detected by X-rays.
Sterility among males affected by Kartagener Syndrome may occur, because
sperm are unable to migrate normally from the testes. Female fertility may
be reduced due to inadequate movement of the egg from the ovary through the
fallopian tube. Heart problems among Kartagener patients may be present,
particularly if the situs inversus is incomplete.
Causes
Kartagener Syndrome is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait with
incomplete penetrance. Incomplete penetrance of a gene means that all
characteristics of a particular trait may not be manifested in all those who
inherit the defective genes. Thus, some cases may be mild and some severe.
(Human traits including the classic genetic diseases, are the product of the
interaction of two genes for that condition, one received from the father and
one from the mother. In recessive disorders, the condition does not appear
unless a person inherits the same defective gene from each parent. If one
receives one normal gene and one gene for the disease, the person will be a
carrier for the disease, but usually will show no symptoms. The risk of
transmitting the disease to the children of a couple, both of whom are
carriers for a recessive disorder, is twenty-five percent. Fifty percent of
their children will be carriers, but healthy as described above. Twenty-five
percent of their children will receive both normal genes, one from each
parent and will be genetically normal.)
Affected Population
Kartagener Syndrome is found in all races and is estimated to affect
approximately 1 in 30,000 to 60,000 individuals.
Related Disorders
Symptoms of the following disorders can be similar to those of Kartagener
Syndrome. Comparisons may be useful for a differential diagnosis:
Immotile Cilia Syndrome is a form of ciliary dyskinesia. It is also
known as Polynesian Bronchiectasis. This disorder primarily affects New
Zealand Maoris and Samoan Islanders. Bronchial tube problems are accompanied
by abnormalities of the cell lining structures (cilia) which limit their
normal mobility. However, cilia abnormalities are different from those of
Kartagener Syndrome which can be identified through laboratory tests.
Fibrosing Alveolitis is an inflammatory lung disorder characterized by
abnormal formation of fibrous tissue between tiny air sacs (alveoli) or ducts
in the lungs. Coughing and rapid, shallow breathing occur with moderate
exercise. The skin may appear slightly bluish (cyanotic) due to lack of
circulating oxygen. Complications such as infection, emphysema or heart
problems may develop. (For more information on this disorder, choose
"Alveolitis" as your search term in the Rare Disease Database).
Bronchiectasis (Congenital and Acquired) are relatively rare disorders in
which the bronchial tubes are enlarged due to a variety of causes. The
congenital form is due to a prenatal developmental abnormality.
Bronchiectasis may also be caused by Pneumonia, Cystic Fibrosis, chronic
Bronchitis, Sinusitis, Emphysema, Measles, Silicosis, lung abscess, lung
cancer, or breathing foreign substances into the lungs. (For more
information on Cystic Fibrosis, Silicosis, Bronchitis, Measles, or rare forms
of pneumonia or other lung conditions, please choose the appropriate name as
your search term in the Rare Disease Database).
Persistent coughing may be dry in some cases, or can produce large
amounts of thick, foul smelling sputum in others. Coughing is caused by an
accumulation of mucous in the breathing tubes, which also increases the
possibility of infection and inflammation of lung tissues. Inflammation may
affect parts of one or both lungs. Only rarely is an entire lung involved.
Treatment with antibiotic drugs may be helpful in controlling symptoms and
preventing complications. Without treatment, the bronchial walls may
deteriorate and spread infection.
Therapies: Standard
In most cases of Kartagener Syndrome, daily postural drainage treatments are
necessary. This requires the patient to lie down in a prone head-down
position which drains the lower back sections of the lungs. The position can
be modified when treating other sections of the lung. In some cases, surgery
may be necessary to correct abnormal systemic circulation. Antibiotic
therapy should be started when fever and systemic symptoms occur, and should
be monitored carefully by a physician. Genetic counseling is recommended for
patients and their families. Other treatment is symptomatic and supportive.
Therapies: Investigational
This disease entry is based upon medical information available through June
1988. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every
entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please
check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current
information about this disorder.
Resources
For more information on Kartagener Syndrome, please contact:
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
P.O. Box 8923
New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783
(203) 746-6518
American Lung Association
1740 Broadway
New York, NY 10019
(212) 315-8700
NIH/National Heart, Blood & Lung Institute (NHLBI)
Office of Public Inquiries
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20892
(301) 496-4236
For genetic information and genetic counseling referrals, please contact:
March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
1275 Mamaroneck Avenue
White Plains, NY 10605
(914) 428-7100
Alliance of Genetic Support Groups
35 Wisconsin Circle, Suite 440
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
(800) 336-GENE
(301) 652-5553
References
This Rare Disease Database entry is based upon outlines prepared by medical
and dental students (1984-1986) at the Medical College of Virginia for their
course in human genetics, and the following articles:
MENDELIAN INHERITANCE IN MAN, 7th ed.: Victor A. McKusick; Johns Hopkins
University Press, 1986. Pp. 1060-1061, 1071-1072.
INTERNAL MEDICINE, 2nd Ed.: Jay H. Stein, ed.; Little, Brown and Co.,
1987. Pp. 691.
KARTAGENER'S SYNDROME WITH MOTILE CILIA AND IMMOTILE SPERMATOZOA:
AXONEMAL ULTRASTRUCTURE AND FUNCTION: L.J. Wilton, et al.; Am Rev Respir Dis
(December 1986, issue 40(4)). Pp. 1233-1236.