Conditions that might cause decreased mucociliary clearance

The following conditions might decrease the ability of a patient to expectorate secretions due to impaired mucociliary clearance.  The cause is generally secretions that are either too tenacious to bring up, or destruction of the cilia used to move the secretions out.

Diseases that impair mucociliary clearance are:

• Cystic Fibrosis
• Primary ciliary dyskinesia
• Bacterial infections
• Mycoplasmal infections
• Viral infections
• Bronchiectasis
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
• Smoking (either passive or active)
• Lung transplantation

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