Pulsed direct and constant direct currents in the pilocarpine iontophoresis sweat chloride test

BMC Pulmonary Medicine

Table 9 Sweat test diagnosis by constant direct and pulsed direct currents taking into account cystic fibrosis diagnosis by other methods

Sweat test	Groups	CF diagnosis*		Total	p-value	Cohen’s Kappa index	Standard error	Agreement
Sweat test	Groups	Typical CF	Atypical CF	Total	p-value	Cohen’s Kappa index	Standard error	Agreement
Constant direct current	Typical CF	19	5	24	0.006	0.5205	0.1658	Moderate
Constant direct current	Atypical CF	0	4	4	0.006	0.5205	0.1658	Moderate
Total		19	9	28
Pulsed direct current	Typical CF	19	1	20	<0.001	0.9218	0.1851	Almost perfect
Pulsed direct current	Atypical CF	0	9	9	<0.001	0.9218	0.1851	Almost perfect
Total		19	10	29

*CF diagnosis was performed by CFTR mutation screening and CFTR activity in rectal biopsies by Ussing chamber. The first sweat test performed in the subjects was done by constant direct current; golden standard diagnosis tool. The pulsed direct current was done to compare the results with the constant direct current and the CFTR mutations and CFTR expression and function by rectal biopsies. All subjects enrolled have clinical symptoms related with CF disease.

ISSN: 1471-2466