Comparison of Classic Sweat Test and Crystallization Test in Diagnosis of Cystic Fibrosis

Nima Rezaei; Bahar Pakseresht; Mohammad-Taghi Haghi-Ashtiani; Nooshin Sadjadei; Fatemeh Farahmand; Vajiheh Modaresi

IJ Pediatrics

The Scientific Journal of Growth & Development Research Center

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Comparison of Classic Sweat Test and Crystallization Test in Diagnosis of Cystic Fibrosis

Author(s):

Nima Rezaei¹,

Bahar Pakseresht²,

Mohammad-Taghi Haghi-Ashtiani³,

Nooshin Sadjadei⁴,

Fatemeh Farahmand⁵,

Vajiheh Modaresi^6,*

1Molecular Immunology Research Center; and Department of Immunology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

2Faculty of Pharmacy, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Yazd, Iran

3Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Children’s Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran & Department of Pathology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

4Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Children’s Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

5Department of Pediatrics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran & Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Children’s Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

6Ali-ebne Abitaleb Medical School, Islamic Azad University, Yazd, Iran

IJ Pediatrics:Vol. 22, issue 1; 102-106

Published online:Mar 31, 2012

Article type:Research Article

Received:Jan 14, 2011

Accepted:Dec 16, 2011

How to Cite:Nima RezaeiBahar PaksereshtMohammad-Taghi Haghi-AshtianiNooshin SadjadeiFatemeh FarahmandVajiheh Modaresiet al.Comparison of Classic Sweat Test and Crystallization Test in Diagnosis of Cystic Fibrosis.Iran J Pediatr.22(1):102-106.

Abstract

Objective: Sweat chloride measurement is considered a standard diagnostic tool for cystic fibrosis (CF). This study was performed to compare sweat chloride values obtained by quantitative pilocarpine iontophoresis (classic test) with sweat crystallization detected by direct observation of a drop of perspiration under light microscopy in patients with and without CF.
Methods: The tests using both techniques were performed simultaneously in patients with and without CF. Cutoff values of ≥60 mmol/L of chloride concentration for the classic sweat test was considered for diagnosis of CF. In crystallization method, observation of typical dendritic forms of salt crystals under light microscopy was interpreted positive.
Findings: Sixty patients suspected to CF (31 males and 29 females) with age range of 9 months to 2 years underwent the sweat test using both techniques. Median sweat chloride values was 26.13+10.85 in group with negative and 72.76+12.78 mmol/L in group with positive sweat test, respectively. All the patients who had positive sweat test in classic method showed typical dendritic forms of salt crystal in sweat crystallization test, which provided the test with 100% sensitivity (95%CI: 93.1-100). Only one of the 31 subjects with negative results for classic sweat test had positive result for crystallization sweat test, which provided the test with 96.7% specificity (95%CI: 92.9-100). Time spent to perform the crystallization test was significantly shorter than the classic method whereas its cost was also lower than the second method.
Conclusion: There was a good correspondence between two studied methods of sweat test. These results suggested the sweat crystallization test as an alternative test for detecting CF disease with high sensitivity and specificity.

Keywords

Cystic fibrosis

Diagnosis

Sweat chloride

Sweat crystallization

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