Quantification of eccrine sweat glands with acetylcholine sweat-spot test and anatomical redistribution of sweating after T2-T3 thoracoscopic sympathicolysis.
BACKGROUND
In this study, patients treated by thoracoscopic sympathicolysis for palmar hyperhidrosis were evaluated to determine the number and response of sweat glands to intradermal acetylcholine stimulus.


METHODS
A total of 30 patients were included in the study. Group A consisted of 10 patients with palmar hyperhidrosis who underwent thoracoscopic sympathicolysis in October 2005, and group B consisted of 20 patients who underwent surgery during the years 1999, 2000, and 2001. The study procedure involved applying iodine alcohol to the palm and then intradermally injecting 0.1 ml 1% acetylcholine. This activated the sweat glands, which were then photographed and counted. The study procedure was performed prospectively over different periods in group A and retrospectively in group B.


RESULTS
In group A, the mean number of glands activated 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery were 41, 174.20, 522.8, and 747.2, respectively; this gradual increase was statistically significant over the first 6 months (p = 0.004) but not between months 6 and 12 (p = 0.255). The trend towards an increasing number of active glands occurred in both groups, with a mean of 1369.8 active glands in group B compared to 747.2 (p = 0.095) in group A after 12 months.


CONCLUSIONS
It is well-known that Cannon's law of denervation (1939) is not applicable to the sweat glands, that is, there is no hyperactivation following intradermal acetylcholine stimulation. However, some response, which increased over the first 6 months following surgery, was observed in our study. Nevertheless, this activation is subsequently self-limiting, resulting in no gland atrophy, and reinnervation occurs without patient awareness.
Ramos
Ricard
R
Department of Thoracic Surgery and Unit of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Servei de Cirurgia Toràcica, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Feixa Llarga, Spain. ricardramos@ub.edu
Masuet
Cristina
C
Badia
Maria
M
Perna
Valerio
V
Macia
Ivan
I
Escobar
Ignacio
I
Villalonga
Rosa
R
Moya
Juan
J
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018678:Cholinergic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004439:Eccrine Glands / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006225:Hand; D006801:Humans; D006945:Hyperhidrosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D013546:Sweating / Q000187:drug effects; D013563:Sympathectomy, Chemical; D013565:Sympatholytics; D013906:Thoracoscopy; D055815:Young Adult
D018678:Cholinergic Agents; D013565:Sympatholytics; D000109:Acetylcholine