News

First treatment with reimbursed gene therapy Zolgensma at UZ Leuven

25 August 2023

At the end of 2021 the reimbursement of the gene therapy Zolgensma® for the treatment of the rare nerve disorder SMA was approved in Belgium. Recently, doctors at UZ Leuven were able to treat a first patient with the commercial product. In case of a timely diagnosis Zolgensma® can influence the severity of the disease.

UZ Leuven develops new classification model for congenital kidney disease in children

24 July 2023

Leuven doctors have developed a new model that can predict the growth of kidneys in children with the congenital kidney disease ADPKD based on 3D ultrasound images. By finding out in which children the disease will rapidly become serious, it is better to intervene in an early stage.

New preventive drug against CMV infection after kidney transplant has fewer side effects

11 July 2023

UZ Leuven doctors have collaborated on a large trial into preventive drugs against the cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection after a kidney transplant. They discovered that letermovir, a drug with a new operating mechanism, prevents infections just as well as the classic approach, but has less serious adverse effects.

Donations to UZ Leuven: all options listed

6 July 2023

All information about donations have been listed on the brand new website uzleuven.be/steun. Find out how you can support UZ Leuven and through which channels you can make a donation.

A step closer to an AI-assistant that can detect glaucoma

4 July 2023

Artificial intelligence (AI) can help ophthalmologists recognise glaucoma, the main cause of blindness. Belgian researchers have developed a new AI model and trained it with eye images of patients at UZ Leuven. The algorithm was able to detect glaucoma in 13 external datasets.

Orientation and follow-up programme home care (OOTT)

3 July 2023

OOTT stands for Oriëntatie en OpvolgingsTraject Thuiszorg (orientation and follow-up programme) for vulnerable elderly people. This customised support ensure that you can continue to live at home under the best conditions for as long as possible.

Protecting transplant patients against COVID-19 requires customised approach

22 June 2023

Leuven doctors investigated in 1,878 transplant patients to what extent they were protected against COVID-19 after repeated vaccination. The study confirms the safety of vaccines, but found striking differences in antibody production and protection against severe COVID-19-infection.

Leuven to host the World Transplant Games in 2027

14 June 2023

The city of Leuven, UZ Leuven, Transplantoux – with the support of IM Associates -, KU Leuven and the Leuven Convention Bureau joined forces to bring the World Transplant Games to Leuven in in 2027.

Genetic test to determine after-treatment ovarian cancer

12 June 2023

Leuven researchers have developed a genetic test that determines which patients will benefit from an after-treatment with PARP inhibitors.

Chemotherapy or antibiotics treatment soon also possible at home

7 June 2023

Minister for (public) health Frank Vandenbroucke and INAMI have recently announced the legal and financial framework for home oncology and antibiotics therapy hospitalisation. The final legal text has not yet been made public, but it is positive news that the step towards the legal framework has now been taken.

Irradiation on the heart for life-threatening arrhythmias is Belgian first

26 May 2023

UZ Leuven is the first to radiate a patient's heart to help prevent life-threatening arrhythmias.

Hypertension, an underrated and under-treated problem

15 May 2023

17 May is World Hypertension Day, a day to raise awareness for (too) high blood pressure. And that is necessary, because an estimated 10 million of deaths due to cardiovascular diseases are partly caused by hypertension.