Monitoring perspiration from palms of hypohidrosis patients with a stopped-flow conductometric mini-system.

BACKGROUND

Sensitive and real-time methods are required to characterize the symptoms and resolve the complicated pathology of hypohidrosis.

METHOD: We constructed a conductometric humidity sensor and a stopped-flow manifold with suitable dynamic range for monitoring impaired perspiration. The mini-sensor was coated with a water-absorbing polymer of poly-(2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonate).

RESULTS

Perspiration from palms of normal individuals and hypohidrosis patients were monitored and compared. Tangent slopes of the sensorograms were capable of discriminating hypohidrosis patients from normal individuals.

CONCLUSION

The conductometric min-sensor and the stopped-flow manifold were proven to be useful as a diagnostic tool for hypohidrosis.