Advantages of comprehensive lung function techniques in cystic fibrosis

Abstract

The goal of monitoring lung function in cystic fibrosis (CF) is to detect deterioration of disease at an early stage. What is needed, therefore, is lung function tests that reflect pathophysiological changes in the lungs of CF patients. Theoretically, lung function tests could then be helpful to the clinician in several ways: * Lung function tests could detect pathological changes in the lung at the earliest possible stage, leading to intervention early in life, and, possibly, to a better prognosis for CF patients. * Lung function tests could detect pathological change in the lung more precisely than clinical signs and symptoms, leading to better evaluation and refinement of treatment strategies, and, eventually, to a better prognosis for CF patients. * Lung function tests, as a reflection of pathological changes, could teach doctors more about the course of CF in individual patients in comparison to the general population, and enable them to identify and treat patients with a high risk of morbidity.