1 Department of Radiology, Barney Children's Medical Center and the Air Force Institute of Technology, Dayton, Ohio
This study reports nail sodium values in milliequivalents per kilogram as determined by neutron activation analysis in a variety of normal, hospitalized, and cystic fibrosis children. The elevated sodium values thus determined in cystic fibrosis indicate the usefulness of the method, though they are not in themselves diagnostic.
The nails are porous to sodium and reflect the sweat sodium levels. The results are influenced by age, environment of the nail, and other disease conditions.
Submitted on October 6, 1969