PCD Foundation

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is an umbrella term for inherited disorders of the cilia that line the upper and lower respiratory tract including nasal passages, sinuses and lung, and eustachian tubes of the ear, the reproductive organs, and the ventricles of the brain. Ciliary dysfunction prevents the clearance of mucous from the lungs, paranasal sinuses and middle ears. People with PCD may have persistent or recurrent respiratory infections, such as bronchitis and/or pneumonias. Over time, chronic infection results in permanent damage to these areas and, in the case of the lungs, possible respiratory failure. Adults with PCD experience infertility (most males) or sub-fertility (some females). Chronic sinus and ear disease, including hearing loss, are common in PCD.