Cystic Fibrosis Center

St. Louis Children's Hospital

Our comprehensive, fully accredited Cystic Fibrosis Center and affiliated clinics are premier clinical and research programs. Our commitment to excellence in patient care, teaching, and research is regularly recognized by our division’s inclusion as one of America’s best pediatric pulmonary services.

During the past academic year, the Cystic Fibrosis Center saw more than 500 pediatric and adult patients with cystic fibrosis, most of whom live within the St. Louis region in Missouri and Illinois. Located in the St. Louis Children’s Hospital, the Pediatric Cystic Fibrosis Center follows over 200 children and adolescents regularly. Our center is also involved in the care of patients with cystic fibrosis from across the United States who have been referred for or undergone lung or liver transplantation at our center. The center clinical staff includes nurse coordinators, dietitians, social workers, physical therapists, respiratory therapists and other ancillary health personnel. A full complement of medical subspecialty consultants, including endocrinology, gastroenterology and surgical consultants are available, many of whom are actively involved in the program.

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Clinical services

Laboratory and diagnostic services

The Pediatric Pulmonary Function Laboratory at St. Louis Children’s Hospital specializes in pediatric lung function testing from infancy through adolescence. It includes three rooms for standard pulmonary function testing (spirometry, lung volumes), an exercise testing area, and a dedicated room for infant pulmonary function measurements. The laboratory routinely performs approximately 6000 tests each year.

Microbiological analyses of specimens from the upper and lower respiratory tract are performed in the St. Louis Children’s Hospital Microbiology Laboratory.

Sweat chloride measurements for all patients seen at the Washington University Medical Center are performed in the Clinical Chemistry Laboratory at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. The center director receives and reviews all measured values. Nasal transepithelial potential difference (NPD) measurements have been validated, and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics Development Network NPD Core has certified the center.

Newborn screening for cystic fibrosis

Newborn screening for cystic fibrosis is ongoing in Missouri and Illinois. The Cystic Fibrosis Standing Committee of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services meet regularly with physicians and nurses representing the accredited cystic fibrosis centers. Educational resources and seminars for parents and caregivers have been developed by the center. Despite the different approaches that each state has adopted for cystic fibrosis newborn screening, we have been able to consistently perform diagnostic testing within a week of a positive screen, evaluate the child in the Pediatric Cystic Fibrosis Center and often begin treatment on the same day.

Lung transplantation for cystic fibrosis

The St. Louis Children’s Hospital is one of the most active pediatric solid organ transplant centers worldwide. Over 300 pediatric lung transplants have been performed here, and the majority of those were on children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis who have advanced lung disease. The Cystic Fibrosis Center remains committed to lung transplantation as a potential option to those eligible with severe pulmonary disease, and we will continue to care for all cystic fibrosis patients in need of lung transplantation in the U.S. and worldwide.

Information for patients & parents

Learn more about our center on the St. Louis Children’s Hospital site.

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Affiliate cystic fibrosis programs

The affiliate cystic fibrosis centers at the Memorial Medical Center at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield, Illinois, and the Carle Clinic in Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, are both active. The center staff reviews and visits the affiliate centers regularly. Each program cares for approximately 20 to 40 CF patients from central and southern Illinois, and has the facilities and complement of physician, nursing and ancillary staff to accommodate their patients.

Cystic Fibrosis Center

Our Team

Research & Training

Clinical services

Information for patients & parents