title: New clinical diagnostic procedures for cystic fibrosis in Europe.
abstract: In the majority of cases, there is no difficulty in diagnosing Cystic Fibrosis (CF). However, there may be wide variation in signs and symptoms between individuals which encourage the scientific community to constantly improve the diagnostic tests available and develop better methods to come to a final diagnosis in patients with milder phenotypes. This paper is the result of discussions held at meetings of the European Cystic Fibrosis Society Diagnostic Network supported by EuroCareCF. CFTR bioassays in the nasal epithelium (nasal potential difference measurements) and the rectal mucosa (intestinal current measurements) are discussed in detail including efforts to standardize the techniques across Europe. New approaches to evaluate the sweat gland, future of genetic testing and methods on the horizon like CFTR expression in human leucocytes and erythrocytes are discussed briefly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. christiane.deboeck@uz.kuleuven.ac.be
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: De Boeck
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Derichs
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fajac
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: de Jonge
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bronsveld
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sermet
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vermeulen
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Sheppard
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cuppens
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hug
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Melotti
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Middleton
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wilschanski
mesh_terms: D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003948:Diagnostic Techniques, Respiratory System / Q000639:trends*; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D008511:Medicine / Q000639:trends*