Cystic Fibrosis Center

The Cystic Fibrosis Center at UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital and its academic affiliate Case School of Medicine is recognized nationally for treatment of patients with cystic fibrosis; for research into the basic science and clinical aspects of the disease; for developing new therapies; and for training cystic fibrosis clinicians, physician-scientists and basic science investigators.

Cystic Fibrosis Care Center

Patients with cystic fibrosis are evaluated and treated at The LeRoy W. Matthews Cystic Fibrosis Center, located at UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital.

The Cystic Fibrosis Care Center is under the direction of Michael W. Konstan, MD The Center has two components, a Pediatric Program headed by Dr. Konstan, and an Adult Program headed by Steven Strausbaugh, MD. Ten pediatric and adult pulmonologists participate as Center physicians in the direct care of cystic fibrosis patients. Additional CF Team members include nurses, respiratory therapists, dietitians, and a social worker, all of whom have considerable expertise in the care of cystic fibrosis patients.

Fully accredited with the highest possible rating by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the Cystic Fibrosis Care Center provides diagnostic services for infants identified through the Ohio Newborn Screening program as possibly having CF, and for older children and adults with symptoms suggestive of cystic fibrosis.

A comprehensive treatment program has proven quite successful; UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital patients are among the longest living in the U.S. Most patients are seen on an on-going basis for evaluation and treatment, but one-time consultations are also available.

The Center is the largest in Ohio, and draws patients from many neighboring states due to its successful programs in the diagnosis and treatment of the many complications of CF. The Center is the only facility in Ohio and one of only several in the nation to offer nasal potential difference (NPD) testing as a clinical diagnostic aid for the difficult to diagnose patient.

Clinical Programs

Patient Services for Children and Adults with cystic fibrosis:

• Sweat testing
• Genetic testing and counseling
• Nasal potential difference testing
• Pulmonary function testing, including infant PFT and nitric oxide measurement
• Bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage
• Evaluation of pulmonary and gastrointestinal symptoms, laboratory findings, and less common manifestations of CF by a multi-disciplinary team
• Dedicated clinics for newborn screening evaluations
• Comprehensive treatment program
• Support from other medical and surgical sub-specialists experienced in dealing with complications of cystic fibrosis
• Dedicated in-patient adult unit
• Lung transplantation