borderline sweat chloride

[deb9755]

My 2 1/2 year old daughter had a sweat chloride test of 46 and was
recommended for another one. She was recently diagnosed with
obstructive sleep apnea and had intussusception  a couple of
months ago. She's now going to have her tonsils and adenoids
removed. She's had a runny nose and croupy cough for almost two
years, but while they always suspect pneumonia, her lungs are
clear.  Asthma treatments and allergy medicines have done
little good. She's above average size. The only other unusual
factor was a constant severe diaper rash for two months when she
went from formula to milk/foods.  From what I read she doesn't
seem to have symptoms of cystic fibrosis, but are there other
reasons for an elevated sweat chloride? Deb 

 

[Alyssa]

I'm not completely sure about other reasons for elevated sweat test numbers -- the only thing I think I remember is some sort of problem with the immune system - other than that I don't think there are any other reason besides CF.

Yes, getting another sweat test is a good idea -- I would also ask for full genetic testing -- read the first page of my blog for more info about sweat test numbers and our experience with borderline and normal numbers.

 

[taylorangel]

my son had that rash really bad.. best thing i can tell ya about
clearing it up is Boudereaux butt paste. it cleared it up in like 3
days. as for the sweat test. i would request another one. my son
was born with CF and they didn't do a sweat test til the day he
left from the hospital. He had an <a rank="3" href=
"javascript:AddNavBar('../health_guide_atoz/hw185074.asp');">meconium
plug</a> or meconium ileus.  So i agree with the retest.

 

[Emily65Roses]

A constant cough with an elevated sweat test is perfect reason enough to get genetic blood testing for CF. Though failure to thrive is often a symptom in CF, many of us maintain weight fine, especially when younger. While CF symptoms generally follow a basic line from one to the next, there is a very wide range of CFers. You can't really ever compare one CFer to the next, it's useless. Your child can very easily not follow the "typical CF" example, and still have CF. Not saying she does or doesn't, but the borderline sweat test and the little bit of unusual health is worth testing again. Sweat tests are very very often inconclusive (and, I might add, you can get a false negative, though not a false positive), and I would recommend a blood test for CF genes.

 

[NoExcuses]

.

 

[Ratatosk]

DS was born with a bowel obstruction caused by Meconium Illeus. His sweat test was 32 -- normal. Blood tests showed double delta f508. As for nasty rash -- in the hospital we used something called criticaid made by bazaa, also listed under sween. A triple paste most commonly used on adults who are incontinent. Forms a really really thick barrier that only comes off when you wash it off. Used to dry up that nasty rash in a few hours. Liza

 

[Mommafirst]

Both of my daughters sweat tests were borderline as well (first was
a 53 second a 45).  With her MI at birth and the elevated
sweat tests, I was told they were "suspicious" of CF.
 I asked a lot of questions like you are, because I couldn't
figure why she'd be so elevated -- she has no other CF symptoms yet
-- and found that really the sweat chloride could be elevated in
cases of dehydration, but otherwise there was nothing else I could
find.  The genetics won't lie, ask for a full genetic test,
and set your mind at ease.

 

[anonymous]

I recommend getting another test as well. BUT PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU DO IT AT A CERTIFIED CF CENTER. My son had 2 borderline sweat tests, one being a positive of 60....however none were done at a CF center. The pulmonologist he goes to said he didn't have enough clinical symptoms of CF, so must just be a carrier (genetic testing of 97 mutations came back nagative for even one gene). I wasn't convinced and insisted on a referral to a CF clinic three hours a way. Their sweat test was 17....normal. AFter talking to them, I discovered our local hospital lab did the test wrong, leaving the collection things on for over an hour.....leading to dehydration and an elevated reading. Due to his complete lack of clinical symptoms, a normal sweat test (at the clinic), they have given him a negative diagnosis. Anyway, just my 2 cents worth....

 

[anonymous]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>anonymous</b></i>

I recommend getting another test as well. BUT PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU DO IT AT A CERTIFIED CF CENTER. My son had 2 borderline sweat tests, one being a positive of 60....however none were done at a CF center. The pulmonologist he goes to said he didn't have enough clinical symptoms of CF, so must just be a carrier (genetic testing of 97 mutations came back nagative for even one gene). I wasn't convinced and insisted on a referral to a CF clinic three hours a way. Their sweat test was 17....normal. AFter talking to them, I discovered our local hospital lab did the test wrong, leaving the collection things on for over an hour.....leading to dehydration and an elevated reading. Due to his complete lack of clinical symptoms, a normal sweat test (at the clinic), they have given him a negative diagnosis. Anyway, just my 2 cents worth....</end quote></div>

If he didn't have enough clinical symptoms, why was he being tested for CF? The positive test in concerning. Just keep in mind it is near impossible to definately rule out CF. If he has rare genes, or genes that cause low sweat cloride both test could come back with a false negative.

 

[anonymous]

I'm wondering the same thing. If your child had so few clinical symptoms then why was he tested for CF?

I also was also told leaving the thing on longer would cause a false negative reading and not a false positive.

Plus like the other poster said, no test can rule CF out 100%. Even the best DNA testing can not show any mutations if its a rare one. And some mutations cause negative sweat tests

And meds like steroids can cause a false negative. False negatives are A LOT more common than false positives! Even when it comes to sweat tests that were done incorrectly

 

[JazzysMom]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>deb9755</b></i>

My 2 1/2 year old daughter had a sweat chloride test of 46 and was
recommended for another one. She was recently diagnosed with
obstructive sleep apnea and had intussusception  a couple of
months ago. She's now going to have her tonsils and adenoids
removed. She's had a runny nose and croupy cough for almost two
years, but while they always suspect pneumonia, her lungs are
clear.  Asthma treatments and allergy medicines have done
little good. She's above average size. The only other unusual
factor was a constant severe diaper rash for two months when she
went from formula to milk/foods.  From what I read she doesn't
seem to have symptoms of cystic fibrosis, but are there other
reasons for an elevated sweat chloride? Deb </end quote></div>

Addisons, Adrenal Gland problems, Hypothyrodism & Kidney failure can cause elevated sweat test results. This is why those that dont present symptoms or the sweat test is inconclusive should have the genetic testing done for CF.

 

[anonymous]

The intussuseption (sp?) could be a clue. People with CF who are pancreatic insufficient and have problems with malabsorption have a risk of intussuseption (when the intestine folds in on itself).

Maria (mom to Sami, 3 yrs. old, w/cf)