NTM and PCD
Many of you may not know that Dr. Ken Olivier at NIH got involved in the PCD study due to his interest in NTM infections. He was seeing patients with NTM disease with no underlying disorder identified to explain their infections. He hypothesized (having been trained at Chapel Hill) that undiagnosed CF, PCD or Alpha-1 might be involved and worked with UNC to get his site added to the GDMCC study to look for PCD and atypical CF in adult patients with NTM.
I had the chance to speak with Dr. Olivier briefly at dinner tonight and asked him what he was finding at his site. He said that, based on nasal NO levels, they have been “surprised” at the number of people coming in with NTM infections who appear to actually have PCD. The connection has not been as strong with CF or Alpha-1, probably because the diagnosis of those disorders is a little easier and patients have probably had those diagnoses ruled out prior to coming to see him. We didn’t have time for details, but it is a tantalizing tidbit of info. I’m sure it he will get more into detail about this tomorrow…