Testing via oral swabs identified hidden systemic inflammation in patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia even when they were not experiencing acute illness.
RT’s Three Key Takeaways:
- Systemic Inflammation Detection: Researchers identified hidden systemic inflammation in patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia even when they were not experiencing acute illness.
- Non-Invasive Monitoring: A simple oral swab can detect the same inflammatory signals found in blood samples, offering a needle-free method for home-based monitoring and treatment adjustment.
- Personalized Care Potential: Identifying unique inflammatory profiles may help clinicians determine which existing anti-inflammatory therapies are most effective for individual patients with various chronic lung diseases.
Researchers at UTHealth Houston have identified hidden systemic inflammation in patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), even when they are not experiencing acute illness, according to a study published in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.
Led by Ricardo Mosquera, professor and director of pediatric pulmonary and sleep medicine at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, and Giuseppe Colasurdo, professor of pediatric pulmonary and sleep medicine at McGovern Medical School, the research team found that a simple oral swab can detect the same inflammatory signals identified in blood. This finding may make it easier to identify and monitor ongoing inflammation in PCD patients.
PCD is a rare lung disease that affects approximately 1 in every 7,500 to 10,000 live births worldwide. Patients often experience chronic wet cough, persistent nasal congestion, recurrent respiratory infections, frequent pneumonias, chronic ear and sinus infections, and asthma-like symptoms. Over time, persistent inflammation can lead to progressive lung damage if not adequately controlled.
“These findings help us understand why lung disease in children with primary ciliary dyskinesia can worsen over time,” said Ricardo Mosquera, professor and director of pediatric pulmonary and sleep medicine at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston. “They open the door to using existing anti-inflammatory therapies in new ways. They also point to better, more precise ways to monitor how patients respond to treatment.”
The research team evaluated patients from the US, Puerto Rico, and Mexico. The study demonstrated that home-based saliva collection is feasible across diverse populations and could enable needle-free sample collection at home, improving patient comfort and monitoring capabilities.
According to the study, this approach may help healthcare providers identify which treatments are most likely to work for a particular child and provide an easier way to monitor whether those treatments are effective. The ultimate goal is to move toward personalized care where treatment decisions are guided by each patient’s unique inflammatory profile.
“The impact of this research may extend far beyond primary ciliary dyskinesia,” said Ricardo Mosquera, professor and director of pediatric pulmonary and sleep medicine at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston. “Many chronic lung diseases are linked to persistent inflammation, and this simple oral swab could help researchers and clinicians better understand how those conditions affect each patient.”
