The role of the sweat test in the phenotypic diagnosis of cystic fibrosis in Tunisia."

Abstract

 The cystic fibrosis is the most common autosomal recessive disease in the Caucasian population. In the last few years, many cases have been reported in Tunisia. The diagnosis of this pathology is based on clinical symptomatology (respiratory and digestive) and a high chloride concentration in sweat. In this study, we report the contribution of the sweat test in the phenotypical diagnosis of the cystic fibrosis. 1255 Tunisian children suspected carrying cystic fibrosis were explored by at least from a sweat test according to the method of Exsudose with pilocarpine stimulation. Among the tested cases, 47 patients have presented a positive
sweat test ranging from 61 and 168 mmol/l with an average of 97,9 mmol/l ± 26,32. These results were confirmed by molecular biology approach. The sweat test is so a simple and fast technique allowing to distinguish between healthy and cystic fibrosis subjects. It allows a screening of the cystic fibrosis since the first months of life.