Specialized Clinics and Services

Specialized Clinics

Complications of CF needing evaluation and treatment by specialized physicians.

CF Diabetes Clinic
CF related diabetes (CFRD) develops as individuals with CF age. Patients with CFRD have a shorter life expectancy than those without diabetes. We have a combined CF and endocrinology clinic for CF patients with glucose intolerance or CFRD:  for Pediatric patients on alternate Tuesday mornings in the CF Clinic at the University of Minnesota Children's Hospital, Fairview Specialty Clinic and on Friday afternoons for adult patients in the CF Medicine Clinic. The risk of developing CFRD is around 30% for adults with CF. In addition, about as many CF patients are glucose intolerant. Our standard is to obtain yearly glucose tolerance testing in all patients over the age of 5 years, unless they are already diagnosed with CFRD. CFRD is a distinct clinical entity, different from type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and requires treatment that is not the same as for diabetic individuals who do not have CF.

CF Gastroenterology Clinic
Gastrointestinal (GI) complications, the most common complications of CF, often present with an infant who does not grow despite sufficient caloric intake. All-together pancreatic, liver, and intestinal complications are more common than pulmonary complications in patients with CF.  There is a weekly CF GI Clinic for patients who require special expertise with GI issues including gastroesophageal reflux (GER), abdominal pain, distal intestinal obstruction syndrome (DIOS), supplemental feeding tube placement, and others.

Reproductive
Many adults with CF contemplate parenthood. The Minnesota CF Center has more term pregnancies and live births than any CF Center in the world.  We work with Obstetrical/Gynecological and Urological services to meet the needs of patients who wish to be parents by birth.  Approximately 96% of males with CF are infertile because of the congenital absence of the vas deferens (CBAVD). Some men have had aspiration of sperm to be used in artificial insemination by partner.  Barriers to adoption by CF patients have fallen and several patients have become parents through the adoption process.

ENT (Ears, Nose & Throat)
Sinusitis and nasal polyps are among the problems referred to the ENT Clinic.  Our ENT specialists have many years’ experience working with CF patients.

Laboratory Testing Services

Pulmonary Function Laboratory
The Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT) Laboratory provides standard spirometry, pulse oximetry, body plethysmography, and CO diffusion. The PFT lab also supports the clinical research needs.

Infant Pulmonary Function Testing (IPFTs)
This unique service and allows us to identify those silent lung complications in CF patients under the age of 3 and to monitor their clinical progress so that we can prevent and/or aggressively treat their potentially life-limiting complications. IPFTs capture tidal breathing parameters (forced expiratory flows by rapid thoracic compression and multiple inflation , respiratory mechanics, and lung volumes by plethysmography).

Sweat Test Laboratory
The Minnesota CF Center Sweat Test Laboratory does tests on several hundred subjects every year and has over 30 years of experience in refining this test and developing alternative techniques. The standard diagnostic sweat test used is the classic Gibson/Cooke sweat test (GCST), done in duplicate. Additionally , one screening sweat test is done with the Cystic Fibrosis Indicator System (CFIS) sweat test.

Nasal Potential Difference Testing
Measurement of nasal potential difference (NPD) is offered for the diagnosis of CF. We are one of just a few centers in the country to provide this sophisticated diagnostic tool. The research protocols in place using NPD include perfusion of ion channel modifiers to assess CFTR function.