Safae Bensliman1, Nicolas Lefevre2, Jean Duchateau3, Laurence Hanssens2. 1. Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Service de pédiatrie, Hôpital universitaire des enfants Reine Fabiola, Bruxelles, Belgique. 2. Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Institut de mucoviscidose de l'ULB, Hôpital universitaire des enfants Reine Fabiola, Bruxelles, Belgique. 3. Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Laboratoire de pédiatrie, Hôpital universitaire des enfants Reine Fabiola, Bruxelles, Belgique.
Abstract
Sweat test is the gold standard of the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis (CF). The aim of our study was to identify the indications leading to perform a sweat test and those that led to the diagnosis of CF. METHODOLOGY: We collected data of all sweat tests performed between 2008, 1th of March and 2015, 28th of February. They were analyzed following Rosenstein diagnosis criteria (1998): clinical manifestations suggesting CF, positive neonatal screening (≥ 1 positive assay of immunoreactive trypsin) or familial history of CF. RESULTS: We reviewed 1,208 sweat tests over this period. Patients were aged from 13 days to 79 years. Indications were: clinical events (94.0%), a positive neonatal screening (3.7%) and a family history (2.3%). Over the 20 newly diagnosed patients, a positive neonatal screening was the main indication for the sweat test (55%). A positive neonatal screening (p<0.0001), a family history (p<0.0001) and pulmonary signs associated with digestive signs (p=0.004) were more frequently found in these patients. CONCLUSION: Sweat test indications are mostly clinical and mainly pulmonary. This study confirms that a sweat test should be performed in case of pulmonary manifestations suggesting CF especially if these are associated with digestive manifestations.
Sweat test is the gold standard of the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis (CF). The aim of our study was to identify the indications leading to perform a sweat test and those that led to the diagnosis of CF. METHODOLOGY: We collected data of all sweat tests performed between 2008, 1th of March and 2015, 28th of February. They were analyzed following Rosenstein diagnosis criteria (1998): clinical manifestations suggesting CF, positive neonatal screening (≥ 1 positive assay of immunoreactive trypsin) or familial history of CF. RESULTS: We reviewed 1,208 sweat tests over this period. Patients were aged from 13 days to 79 years. Indications were: clinical events (94.0%), a positive neonatal screening (3.7%) and a family history (2.3%). Over the 20 newly diagnosed patients, a positive neonatal screening was the main indication for the sweat test (55%). A positive neonatal screening (p<0.0001), a family history (p<0.0001) and pulmonary signs associated with digestive signs (p=0.004) were more frequently found in these patients. CONCLUSION: Sweat test indications are mostly clinical and mainly pulmonary. This study confirms that a sweat test should be performed in case of pulmonary manifestations suggesting CF especially if these are associated with digestive manifestations.