Moisture Response Films Versus the Starch Iodine Test for the Detection of Palmar Hyperhidrosis

BACKGROUNDThe starch iodine test (SIT) is the gold-standard diagnostic tool for primary palmar hyperhidrosis (PPH).OBJECTIVEThis study aimed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness and safety profile of a novel approach for the detection of PPH by moisture response films (MRF) in comparison to the SIT.METHODSThis prospective comparative study of the 2 tests was conducted on 17 patients with PPH. Disease severity was evaluated by the SIT and the MRF methods during 4 sessions (twice before and twice after botulinum toxin [BTX] injections) on different days and by different investigators. The physician's global assessment (PGA) scoring of the comparable visual results was evaluated by 2 blinded independent dermatologists. The Hyperhidrosis Disease Severity Scale (HDSS) scores of the patients at baseline and after the BTX injections were correlated with the SIT and MRF results.RESULTSThe objective PGA scoring of the SIT results demonstrated poor correlation, whereas the objective PGA scoring of the MRF results correlated highly with the patients' HDSS scores both at baseline and after the BTX injections.CONCLUSIONAnalysis of palmar hyperhidrosis by means of MRF was superior to SIT and was demonstrated to be more efficient, convenient, and accurate.