Mycobacterium abscessus Lung Disease in a Patient with Kartagener Syndrome

• Published in: Tuberculosis and respiratory diseases Vol. 77; no. 3; pp. 136 - 140
• Main Authors: Kim, Jung Hoon, Song, Won Jun, Jun, Ji Eun, Ryu, Duck Hyun, Lee, Ji Eun, Jeong, Ho Jung, Jeong, Suk Hyeon, Kang, Hyung Koo, Kim, Jung Soo, Lee, Hyun, Chon, Hae Ri, Jeon, Kyeongman, Kim, Dohun, Kim, Jhingook, Koh, Won-Jung
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) 대한결핵및호흡기학회 01.09.2014
• Subjects: 내과학; Nontuberculous Mycobacteria; Bronchiectasis; Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia; Kartagener Syndrome; Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous
• DOI: 10.4046/trd.2014.77.3.136
• ISSN: 1738-3536

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is characterized by the congenital impairment of mucociliary clearance. When accompanied by situs inversus, chronic sinusitis and bronchiectasis, PCD is known as Kartagener syndrome. The main consequence of impaired ciliary function is a reduced mucus clearance from the lungs, and susceptibility to chronic respiratory infections due to opportunistic pathogens, including nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). There has been no report of NTM lung disease combined with Kartagener syndrome in Korea. Here, we report an adult patient with Kartagener syndrome complicated with Mycobacterium abscessus lung disease. A 37-year-old female presented to our hospital with chronic cough and sputum. She was ultimately diagnosed with M. abscessus lung disease and Kartagener syndrome. M. abscessus was repeatedly isolated from sputum specimens collected from the patient, despite prolonged antibiotic treatment. The patient's condition improved and negative sputum culture conversion was achieved after sequential bilateral pulmonary resection.