Bronchiectasis and mucoviscidosis.

Sweat chloride of 25 healthy adults was tested by iontophoresis method as 
a control. The mean value was 27.4 plus or minus 15.4 
mEq./l. Thirty-six adult patients of bronchiectasis proved by bronchography was investigated 
for mucoviscidosis. If a patient had sweat chloride above 60 mEq./l., 
it was considered to be diagnostic of mucoviscidosis. Five (13.9 per 
cent) of 36 adult bronchiectasis patients had mucoviscidosis. The mean value 
of sweat chloride in 31 adult bronchiectasis patients was 32.9 plus 
or minus 11.7 mEq./l. The mean value of sweat chloride in 
36 adult bronchiectasis patients (including 5 mucoviscidosis patients) was 42.3 plus 
or minus 26.8 mEq./l. Of 36 patients 18 had cylindrical type 
and 18 had saccular type of bronchiectasis. Three (16.6 per cent) 
out of 18 cylindrical type of bronchiectasis patients and 2 (11.1 
per cent) of 18 saccular type of bronchiectasis patients had mucoviscidosis. 
Five (13.9 per cent) patients had emphysema and 6 (16.6 per 
cent) patients had emphysema with cor pulmonale. One patient of each 
group had mucoviscidosis. ECG showed P-pulmonale in 3 (8.3 per cent) 
patients one of whom had mucoviscidosis. Only one mucoviscidosis patient had 
coagulase positive Staph. aureus in sputum. 