Le mardi 1er juillet 2025, Monsieur Lionel BENCHIMOL, titulaire d'un Master en médecine et d’un Certificat de formation à la recherche en sciences médicales, présentera l'examen en vue de l'obtention du grade de Doctorat en sciences médicales, sous la direction de Monsieur Philippe LEFEBVRE et de Madame Anne-Lise POIRRIER.

Cette épreuve consistera en la défense publique d'une thèse intitulée : «Analysis of Respiratory Ciliary Function on Nasal Epithelium: Validation of a Clinical Diagnostic Protocol Using Digital High-Speed Videomicroscopy». 

Le jury sera composé de :

Didier CATALDO (Président), Céline KEMPENEERS (Secrétaire), Vincent BOURS, Philippe LEFEBVRE, Jean-François PAPON (Univ. Paris Sud), Anne-Lise POIRRIER, Marie-Christine SEGHAYE, Stephan VLAMINCK (AZ Sint-Jan).

Résumé de la thèse

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare genetic disorder that affects motile cilia, leading to chronic respiratory issues. Diagnosing PCD remains difficult due to the lack of a definitive test, requiring a combination of clinical evaluation and various diagnostic tools such as genetic analysis, nasal nitric oxide measurement, and high-speed video microscopy (DHSV). However, DHSV is not yet recognized as a standalone diagnostic method due to the lack of standardized protocols and reliable reference values.

This thesis explored multiple aspects of PCD diagnosis and management. First, it examined diagnostic approaches, treatment strategies, and the impact of multidisciplinary care on patient outcomes. Second, it assessed whether local anesthetics used in ENT procedures could alter ciliary function and affect DHSV accuracy. Third, it investigated whether ciliary sampling under general anesthesia could provide reliable diagnostic results. Lastly, it analyzed ciliary function in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) patients, as PCD patients frequently develop nasal polyps.

The study emphasizes the need for standardized DHSV protocols to establish it as a reliable diagnostic tool for PCD. By evaluating different sample collection methods, it aims to improve PCD diagnosis and enhance patient care.