MedGen

Primary ciliary dyskinesia-14 (CILD14) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by recurrent respiratory infections associated with defects in ciliary inner dynein arms and axonemal disorganization (Merveille et al., 2011). For a general phenotypic description and a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of primary ciliary dyskinesia, see CILD1 (244400). [from OMIM]

Primary ciliary dyskinesia is a disorder characterized by chronic respiratory tract infections, abnormally positioned internal organs, and the inability to have children (infertility). The signs and symptoms of this condition are caused by abnormal cilia and flagella. Cilia are microscopic, finger-like projections that stick out from the surface of cells. They are found in the linings of the airway, the reproductive system, and other organs and tissues. Flagella are tail-like structures, similar to cilia, that propel sperm cells forward.

In the respiratory tract, cilia move back and forth in a coordinated way to move mucus towards the throat. This movement of mucus helps to eliminate fluid, bacteria, and particles from the lungs. Most babies with primary ciliary dyskinesia experience breathing problems at birth, which suggests that cilia play an important role in clearing fetal fluid from the lungs. Beginning in early childhood, affected individuals develop frequent respiratory tract infections. Without properly functioning cilia in the airway, bacteria remain in the respiratory tract and cause infection. People with primary ciliary dyskinesia also have year-round nasal congestion and a chronic cough. Chronic respiratory tract infections can result in a condition called bronchiectasis, which damages the passages, called bronchi, leading from the windpipe to the lungs and can cause life-threatening breathing problems.

Approximately 12 percent of people with primary ciliary dyskinesia have a condition known as heterotaxy syndrome or situs ambiguus, which is characterized by abnormalities of the heart, liver, intestines, or spleen. These organs may be structurally abnormal or improperly positioned. In addition, affected individuals may lack a spleen (asplenia) or have multiple spleens (polysplenia). Heterotaxy syndrome results from problems establishing the left and right sides of the body during embryonic development. The severity of heterotaxy varies widely among affected individuals.

Some individuals with primary ciliary dyskinesia have abnormally placed organs within their chest and abdomen. These abnormalities arise early in embryonic development when the differences between the left and right sides of the body are established. About 50 percent of people with primary ciliary dyskinesia have a mirror-image reversal of their internal organs (situs inversus totalis). For example, in these individuals the heart is on the right side of the body instead of on the left. Situs inversus totalis does not cause any apparent health problems. When someone with primary ciliary dyskinesia has situs inversus totalis, they are often said to have Kartagener syndrome.

Primary ciliary dyskinesia can also lead to infertility. Vigorous movements of the flagella are necessary to propel the sperm cells forward to the female egg cell. Because their sperm do not move properly, males with primary ciliary dyskinesia are usually unable to father children. Infertility occurs in some affected females and is likely due to abnormal cilia in the fallopian tubes.

Another feature of primary ciliary dyskinesia is recurrent ear infections (otitis media), especially in young children. Otitis media can lead to permanent hearing loss if untreated. The ear infections are likely related to abnormal cilia within the inner ear.

Rarely, individuals with primary ciliary dyskinesia have an accumulation of fluid in the brain (hydrocephalus), likely due to abnormal cilia in the brain. [from MedlinePlus Genetics]

Primary ciliary dyskinesia-15 (CILD15) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by recurrent respiratory infections associated with defects in ciliary inner dynein arms and axonemal disorganization (summary by Becker-Heck et al., 2011). For a general phenotypic description and a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of primary ciliary dyskinesia, see CILD1 (244400). [from OMIM]

Primary ciliary dyskinesia-18 is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by early infantile onset of recurrent sinopulmonary infections due to ciliary dysfunction and impaired airway clearance. Males are infertile and about half of patients have situs inversus. Electron microscopy of cilia shows a defect of the outer and inner dynein arms and impaired ciliary function (summary by Horani et al., 2012). [from OMIM]

Primary ciliary dyskinesia-34 (CILD34) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by childhood onset of recurrent sinopulmonary infections due to impaired ciliary function. Affected males are infertile due to impaired sperm function and viability. Laterality defects have not been observed in this type of CILD (summary by El Khouri et al., 2016). For a general phenotypic description and a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of primary ciliary dyskinesia, see CILD1 (244400). [from OMIM]

DFNB32 is characterized by prelingual progressive moderate to profound sensorineural deafness. Some affected men are infertile, and semen analysis has shown high percentages of immotile sperm with abnormal morphology (Imtiaz et al., 2018). [from OMIM]

CATSPER-related male infertility results from abnormalities in sperm and can be either CATSPER-related nonsyndromic male infertility (NSMI) or the deafness-infertility syndrome (DIS) when associated with non-progressive prelingual sensorineural hearing loss. Males with NSMI have infertility while females have no symptoms. Males with DIS have both infertility and hearing loss, while females have only hearing loss. Routine semen analysis typically identifies abnormalities in sperm number, morphology, and motility. Otologic examination and audiologic assessment can identify hearing loss. [from GeneReviews]

Ciliary dyskinesia-41 (CILD41) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by chronic sinusitis, otitis media, and bronchiectasis (Bustamante-Marin et al., 2019). For a phenotypic description and a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of primary ciliary dyskinesia, see CILD1 (244400). [from OMIM]

Spermatogenic failure-40 (SPGF40) is characterized by multiple morphologic abnormalities of the flagella (MMAF), including absent, short, bent, coiled, and irregular-caliber tails, resulting in severely reduced to absent motility. Patient spermatozoa may also show morphologic defects of the sperm head, with acrosomal hypoplasia or aplasia (Wang et al., 2019; Li et al., 2020). For a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of spermatogenic failure, see SPGF1 (258150). [from OMIM]

Spermatogenic failure-47 (SPGF47) is characterized by male infertility due to asthenoteratospermia. Affected individuals have reduced sperm concentrations and spermatozoa are immotile, with short or absent flagella as well as centriolar abnormalities (Lv et al., 2020). For a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of spermatogenic failure, see 258150. [from OMIM]

Spermatogenic failure-41 (SPGF41) is characterized by infertility due to multiple morphologic abnormalities of the flagella (MMAF). Patient semen analysis has also shown oligozoospermia, and the flagellar abnormalities include short, absent, coiled, and irregular-caliber flagella. Some sperm show tapered heads and acrosomal abnormalities (Beurois et al., 2019). For a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of spermatogenic failure, see SPGF1 (258150). [from OMIM]

Spermatogenic failure-29 (SPGF29) is characterized by nonobstructive azoospermia or oligozoospermia. Sperm that are present are immotile and exhibit abnormal morphology, primarily defects of the acrosome and head-neck junction (Kherraf et al., 2017). For a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of spermatogenic failure, see SPGF1 (258150). [from OMIM]

Spermatogenic failure-58 (SPGF58) is characterized by male infertility due to multiple morphologic abnormalities of the flagella (MMAF). Sperm are immotile or show severely reduced progressive motility due to short and irregular caliber flagella as well as bent, coiled, and absent flagella. Head abnormalities have also been observed, including acrosomal and postacrosomal defects (Lores et al., 2021). For a general phenotypic description and discussion of genetic heterogeneity of spermatogenic failure, see SPGF1 (258150). [from OMIM]

A lack of mobility of ejaculated sperm. [from HPO]