Introduction Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a genetic disease characterised by abnormalities in ciliary function, responsible for chronic pulmonary and sinonasal diseases. Adult clinical features and outcome are poorly described.

Objectives To assess the clinical characteristics and disease progression in adults with PCD.

Methods Bicentric retrospective study, focusing on adults (≥18 years) with an asserted diagnosis of PCD based on the presence of bronchiectasis with typical ultrastructural defect of cilia and/or situs inversus (SI). Clinical symptoms, respiratory function, extent of bronchiectasis, microbiology and molecular analysis were assessed. Results are expressed as median (25th; 75th centile).

Results 78 patients were included with a median follow-up of 8.1 years. 91% of patients had respiratory symptoms and 95% had chronic rhinosinusitis. Half of ultrastructural defects concerned dynein arms. Respiratory function was significantly lower in women (FEV₁=60% predicted (50; 76), vs 77% (62; 95), p=0.009) and in patients with chronic airway Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA, n=21) infection (FEV₁=60% (48; 71) vs 75% (55; 89), p=0.04). FEV₁ was associated with gender (regression coefficient for men =13.8, p=0.009), chest CT score (r=−0.42, p<0.001) but not with age at diagnosis, SI or body mass index. FEV₁ decline was −13.4 mL/year (−42.8; +11.9) and was greater in women (−29.3 mL/year, (−59.7; −11.9), vs –2.0 mL/year (−26.9; +25.4), p=0.002). Three patients had severe respiratory failure.

Conclusions Alteration of respiratory function in adults with PCD is heterogeneous and usually moderate but appears more severe in women and in patients with chronic PA infection. Only 4% of patients develop chronic respiratory failure.