1750 SWEAT POTASSIUM (K⁺) VALUES IN CHILDREN WITH CYSTIC FIBROSIS (CF)

Abstract

We retrospectively studied the results of sweat K⁺ values gathered on initial presentation from patients with CF to determine whether sweat K⁺ values varied with age. Two hundred seventy four sweat collections were obtained by the Gibson-Cooke method from 204 patients with CF over a ten year+period and were analyzed for sodium (Na⁺), Chloride (Cl), and K⁺ by the same technician. We excluded tests performed on patients already diagnosed and under treatment for CF, leaving a total of 112 patients. In the case of duplicate sweat tests on the same person, the test with the largest amount of sweat was used for analysis. The mean sweat Na⁺, Cl⁻, and K⁺ for patients <1 year and >1 year are compared in the table.

The findings of lower sweat Na⁺ and higher sweat K⁺ in infants compared to older children may reflect hyperaldosteronism secondary to inadequate salt replacement prior to diagnosis. Loss of large quantities of K⁺ in the sweat in infants with CF may predispose them to hypokalemia and metabolic alkalosis.

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