We report the case of a 66-year-old caucasian woman affected by Kartagener'
s syndrome (KS), a genetically transmitted disorder characterised by situs
viscerum inversus, bronchiectasis and sinusitis, who also developed rheumat
oid arthritis (RA). The impaired mucociliary function typical of KS caused
recurrent paranasal sinus and lung infections, as shown by CT scans of the
sinuses and chest. The coexistence of KS and RA in our patient was probably
accidental. Given the small number of patients in whom an association of t
he two disorders has been described, it is impossible to establish whether
KS might play a role in the pathogenesis of RA.