Pediatric Conditions and Treatment Connecticut Children's and UConn Health Launch State’s Only Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia Center

Hartford, CT (May 7, 2024) - Connecticut Children's and UConn Health are proud to announce the opening of a new Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD) Center, certified as a Clinical and Research Network Center by the PCD Foundation and dedicated to diagnosing and treating children and adults with this rare genetic condition.

PCD is characterized by chronic lung, ear, and sinus infections, along with other health problems such as newborn respiratory distress, situs inversus, and fertility issues, and affects individuals from all racial and ethnic groups. PCD is caused by mutations in genes that control the structure and function of cilia, tiny hair-like structures in the airways that help clear inhaled particles and bacteria. When cilia do not work properly, individuals are prone to infections in the ears, sinuses, and lungs, which can lead to bronchiectasis - a serious lung condition.