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Pet therapy is progressively becoming part of hospital life where it is increasingly appreciated. The practice uses interactions with animals to improve the health and well-being of patients, both physically and psychologically. At the Erasmus Hospital, Yuki brings joy to patients and staff alike. Our four-legged friend joined the team at the intensive care unit 2 years ago, on 25 December 2022. A heartwarming story for this festive season!  Pet therapy:  many benefitsAt the H.U.B., non-pharmacological approaches to managing stress, pain and more widely the quality of life of patients in intensive care is of primordial importance. Every Sunday Yuki spends quality time with each patient who wishes to see him while never forgetting the animal’s welfare. The presence of an animal has a calming effect, soothing anxiety. It also benefits the physical and emotional health of patients by reducing their sense of isolation. Patients can simply spend a little time with him, stroking and patting him and also playing with him in a way that requires some basic but important movements.  Yuki has already helped 110 of our patients in this way. A very strict hygiene protocol is of course respected prior to each hospital visit and between visits to each patient.    Tika, the neighbour at the Children’s HospitalSupported by the H.U.B, Claire, a nurse at the Erasmus Hospital and initiator of the Yuki project, has now built on the same initiative at the Children’s Hospital where she has organised the arrival of Tika, a Dachshund puppy aged 8 months. Tika is currently being trained with a dog trainer familiar with the hospital environment and animal-assisted therapy and is now slowly starting her bedside visits to our young patients. Like Yuki, she is beginning at the intensive care unit. Her presence in a  paediatric care environment is having the same positive impact: reduction of stress and anxiety, improved mood, emotional support, stimulation of social interaction and assistance with rehabilitation for our young patients. 

There are two supervised car parks, managed by an external company. There is also parking in the neighbouring streets (route de Lennik, motorway access road and industrial estate)Erasmus car park: Covered - Open 24h/24h. Payment point 5 in the Bucopa gallery accepts Bancontact, Maestro, Mastercard and Visa payment cardsLennik car park: Open Monday to Friday, from 6.30 am to 10.30 pm. Closed weekends and public holidaysThese car parks can be accessed from exit 15a without entering the Low Emission Zone (LEZ - see LEZ map). Image Tarifs "Erasmus" car parkDuration"Lennik" car park" /30 min/2,80 € 1h1,50 €5,70 €2h3,30 €8,60 €3h4,50 €11,40 €4h6,00 €14,20 €5h6,00 €17,00 €6h6,00 €18,00 €7h – (7 to 24h)6,00 €18,00 €8h 6,00€18,00 €9h - 24h6,00€/1 day//Weekend rate/Weekly rate:€55//Monthly rate: €145//Lost ticket10 €10 € A car park for emergencies and a car park in front of the Day Hospital are also accessible for persons visiting these units.  There are two supervised car parks, managed by an external company.

On the occasion of World Parkinson’s Disease Day on April 11, 2026, Dr. Vincent Leclercq, neurologist and specialist in movement disorders at H.U.B, sheds light on the current realities of the disease and the importance of appropriate care. Parkinson’s disease is often mentioned, sometimes feared, but still poorly understood. Tremors, a disease affecting only the elderly… misconceptions are numerous. Yet knowledge and treatments have evolved considerably in recent years.On the occasion of an information day for patients organized this Saturday, April 11, 2026, Dr. Vincent Leclercq, neurologist and specialist in movement disorders at the Movement Disorders Clinic of H.U.B, sheds light on the current realities of the disease and the importance of appropriate care. A disease that does not only affect the elderly Contrary to popular belief, Parkinson’s disease is not only a disease of older people.“It is primarily an adult disease,” explains Dr. Leclercq.On average, the first symptoms appear around the age of fifty. However, early-onset forms exist, sometimes beginning in one’s twenties, as well as diagnoses at 80 or 90 years old.The disease affects both men and women. In Belgium, it concerns approximately 5% of the population, making it a common condition and a real public health issue. Early warning signs Parkinson’s disease is not limited to tremors. Three major so-called “cardinal” symptoms should raise attention:Resting tremor, usually affecting one hand at first, on one side, occurring when the hand is at rest.Bradykinesia (slowness of movement): movements become slower and less precise, handwriting changes, difficulty buttoning a shirt, loss of fine dexterity.Gait disturbances: walking slows down, steps become smaller, the body may lean forward.The disease also includes many non-motor symptoms, often less visible yet highly disabling:Digestive or urinary disordersDifficulty concentratingSlowed thinkingSwallowing disordersThese symptoms are sometimes the main complaint of patients. In case of doubt, referral to a specialized consultation is essential. Image A clinical diagnosis, sometimes made at the first consultation Parkinson’s disease is one of the few neurological diseases whose diagnosis is primarily clinical.It is based on observation of symptoms and neurological examination. Additional tests may be performed in case of doubt but are not systematic. The announcement of the diagnosis is often a shock. “It is a moment that disrupts the patient’s life,” emphasizes Dr. Leclercq.The team ensures that the diagnosis is delivered with sufficient time to answer questions, allow emotional expression, and lay the foundations for reassuring care.An essential message must be heard: it is possible to live autonomously with proper care. Image Care adapted to each stage of the disease In the early stagesTreatment mainly relies on dopatherapy: supplying the brain with the dopamine it lacks.Results can be spectacular:Significant improvement in symptomsPreserved quality of life for several yearsPatients may remain stable for a long time, with follow-up consultations mainly aimed at adjusting treatment.In more advanced stagesAfter 5 to 10 years, medication effectiveness may fluctuate. “On” periods (when treatment works well) alternate with “off” periods.Advanced therapies may then be proposed:Subcutaneous pump delivering continuous dopamine via a small needleDigestive pump administering dopamine directly into the stomach via a tube placed endoscopicallyDeep brain stimulation: a neurosurgical procedure implanting electrodes in deep brain structures, connected to a generator under the skin, similar to a pacemaker. This continuous stimulation compensates for deficient electrical activityThese solutions often allow better stability and significantly improve quality of life. Image An unpredictable progression, but structured support Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease.Its progression varies greatly from person to person. Some patients progress very slowly, others more rapidly. To date, it is not possible to precisely predict the rate of progression.Loss of autonomy may occur over time, particularly due to:Gait disordersRisk of fallsSwallowing difficultiesHowever, things have changed.In the past, complications (falls, aspiration, infections) often led to death. Today, thanks to appropriate and multidisciplinary care, people no longer die from Parkinson’s disease when it is properly managed.To preserve autonomy as long as possible and prevent complications, the consultation works closely with:PhysiotherapistsSpeech therapistsOther specialized professionals An information day to understand and exchange “This event is important because the disease remains poorly known and is often confused with other neurodegenerative conditions. Because 30-minute consultations every three months are not enough to cover all aspects of the disease. Because relatives and caregivers do not always have the opportunity to express their questions or difficulties,” explains Dr. Leclercq.The program included:Thematic sessions led by various speakersClear and accessible explanationsMoments for discussion and Q&AA space for open, stigma-free dialoguePromoting expertise and strengthening connectionsBeyond informing patients and the general public, this day also highlights the expertise of the specialized Parkinson’s consultation:An experienced teamA multidisciplinary approachMastery of advanced therapiesHuman and individualized support for patients and their relativesBecause better understanding the disease already helps to live better with it. And because a well-informed and well-supported patient remains an active participant in their care journey. Together, let’s advance the understanding and management of Parkinson’s diseaseFor any questions, you can contact the neurology consultation secretariat by email at secmed [dot] neuro [dot] erasme [at] hubruxelles [dot] be (secmed[dot]neuro[dot]erasme[at]hubruxelles[dot]be)  Dr Vincent Leclercq Neurologist and specialist in movement disorders.

Our role Paediatrics is the medical speciality  that is concerned with the growing child in his or her entirety, irrespective of any organs or tissues that may be affected by disease. Paediatric care is decided in partnership with parents and loved ones. In the case of an illness that is chronic or of long duration the paediatricians accompany the child throughout his or her development and ensure the transition to adult medicine.    Image Image Our activities are preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic. At a university hospital such as ours we treat the most complex cases that may demand a multidisciplinary approach and/or advanced treatments. Pr Françoise Vermeulen Head of the Interhospital Integrated Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine Department at the H.U.B Our specialities The H.U.B’s Department of Paediatrics includes 10 services and deploys its outpatient (consultations) activities  at the  HUDERF and the Erasmus Hospital, home to one of the H.U.B’s four paediatric hospitalisation units.   At the Erasmus site (Anderlecht), the Integrated Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine Department proposes a number of general and specialised consultations:    General Paediatrics treats children with complex and/or rare diseases, adopting a multidisciplinary approach when necessary.   Allergology proposes diagnostic assessments and treatment for   Asthma (see Research) and respiratory allergic diseases   (prick test, respiratory function tests, etc.)  Food allergies: oral provocation tests, desensitization/induction of tolerance, etc. ;  Drug allergies: provocation tests in the case of a suspected allergy to antibiotics (penicillin), for example.    Gastro-paediatrics is concerned with children with diseases of the digestive tube that sometimes require complex endoscopic treatment, such as chronic intestinal inflammatory diseases (CIID), chronic constipation, gastro-intestinal malformations, etc.   Paediatric endocrinology treats growth disorders, child diabetes, etc.   Paediatric nephrology treats infections, malformations and other kidney diseases.   (Extremely) premature infants are cared for by the Paediatrics Department, possibly in cooperation with a private paediatrician, on leaving neonatalogy. The Travel Baby Clinic welcomes families with children aged under 16 for prophylactic treatment and the treatment of tropical infectious diseases (e.g.: malaria, breakbone fever, vaccination, etc.)   Paramedical paediatric consultations :  dieticians, psychologists and physiotherapists specialised in childhood diseases also propose consultations at the Erasmus Hospital.   Paediatrics adopts a “pain-free” approach for all potentially painful interventions (wart curettage, placing or removing stitches, minor surgery, etc.).     Our team Image Our specialist doctors Focus The H.U.B’s paediatric neurosurgery clinic treats children from throughout Belgium with brain tumours or cerebral vascular malformations. These children benefit from the latest neuroimaging  techniques (MEG, PET-MR) and multidisciplinary care that includes specialists in neuropaediatrics, in neurosurgery, in neuro-oncology and in  interventional neuroradiology.     Image Research The H.U.B’s Interhospital Integrated Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine Department is active in clinical research with a particular focus on rare cases and neurosurgery. Asthma and respiratory diseases are important avenues of research. The Department is also part of the Asthma Working Group network that is linked to the European Society of Pneumology.    Publications Clinicopathological and molecular characterization of a case classified by DNAmethylation profiling as "CNS embryonal tumor with BRD4-LEUTX fusion Authors : Lebrun L, Allard-Demoustiez S, Gilis N, Van Campenhout C, Rodesch M, Roman C, Calò P, Lolli V, David P, Fricx C, De Witte O, Escande F, Maurage CA, Salmon I.   Journal : Acta Neuropathol Commun. 2023 Mar 18;11(1):46.   A semi high-throughput whole blood-based flow cytometry assay to detect and monitor Bordetella pertussis-specific Th1, Th2 and Th17 responses Authors : Corbière V, Lambert EE, Rodesch M, van Gaans-van den Brink JAM, Misiak A, Simonetti E, Van Praet A, Godefroid A, Diavatopoulos DA, van Els CACM, Mascart F; PERISCOPE WP5 Task 7 working groupJournal : Front Immunol. 2023 Feb 6;14:1101366.  What is a clinically meaningful change in exhaled nitric oxide for children with asthma? Authors : Fielding S, Pijnenburg M, de Jongste J, Pike K, Roberts G, Petsky H, Chang AB, Fritsch M, Frischer T, Szefler S, Gergen P, Vermeulen F, Vael R, Turner SJournal : Pediatr Pulmonol. 2020 Mar;55(3):599-606. Indications and efficiency of dapsone in IgA vasculitis (Henoche-Schonlein purpura): case series and a review of the literature. Authors : Roman C, Dima B, Muyshont L, Schurmans T, Gilliaux O.Journal : Eur J Pediatr. 2019 Aug;178(8):1275-1281

Throughout October, our teams are working to raise the profile of the fight against breast cancer. Find out more on the Jules Bordet Institute website! All the info

Our role Pneumology is the medical speciality concerned with diseases (infectious, cancerous or fibrotic) that affect the respiratory organs: bronchial tubes (asthma, COPD, etc.) or lungs (pneumonias, pulmonary fibrosis, allergic pulmonary diseases, etc.). Image Image In addition to their general pneumology consultation, the H.U.B. pneumologists all have a subspeciality in a type of disease or in thoracic endoscopy. We are the Belgian reference centre for several diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic activities. Pr Dimitri Leduc Director of the H.U.B. Interhospital Department of Pneumology Our specialities In addition to a general pneumology consultation, the H.U.B. Interhospital Department of Pneumonia is structured into 7 clinics and centres of expertise:    The Cystic Fibrosis and Lung Transplant Reference Centre, together with  thoracic surgery, provides long-term follow-up  for persons with cystic fibrosis and/or who can benefit or have benefitted from a lung transplant.   The Asthma and Allergology Clinic is concerned with all forms of asthma, including the most severe, which are treated with biotherapies.  The Interstitial Pulmonary Diseases Clinic is one of 3 Belgian reference centres for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibroses.   The Thoracic Endoscopy Reference Centre (see Focus) The Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Rehabilitation Centre provides a full range of available treatment, including endoscopic or surgical treatment (pulmonary volume reduction or transplant) for the most severe cases.   The Thoracic Cancer Clinic treats lung cancer patients, in cooperation with the Jules Bordet Institute.   The Sleep-Related Respiratory Disorders Clinic is concerned with patients with obstructive apnea requiring recourse to a CPAP.  The Department also has 2 technical platforms:  The respiratory function tests (RFT) that are carried out under the control of the physiotherapists in consultation;  A platform dedicated to endoscopy that the pneumologists share with the urologists and gastroenterologists.  Our Team Image Our specialists Focus The H.U.B. Thoracic Endoscopy Reference Centre provides all the diagnostic and therapeutic procedures of the discipline and has developed an innovative approach to pulmonary nodules. Thanks to scanner images acquired upstream, the Centre uses a GPS-type endoscopic navigation technique that makes it possible to visualise and, above all, reach a lesion located deep in the bronchial branches, beyond the reach of conventional endoscopy. This permits a biopsy and thus a non-invasive diagnosis of these potentially cancerous nodules.  Research The H.U.B. Interhospital Department of Pneumology pursues several lines of fundamental, translational and clinical research. Studies are carried out in the fields of asthma and COPD in particular – with the Asthma Laboratory  – focusing on pulmonary fibrosis, immunology and respiratory physiology.

A unique project designed to give hospitalized patients under protective observation a connection to the outside world during their stay, supporting reintegration and, above all, helping to combat isolation and stigma. A unique project has been developed at the Erasmus Hospital’s South-East Psychiatry Unit.  In partnership with the non-profit organisation Similes and the Family Home Hospital Support (FHS) network,  the team is launching the “Pont de Connexion" (Connecting Bridge) initiative.  The aim is to provide hospitalised patients under protective observation with a connection with the outside world while they are still in hospital so as to support reinsertion  and, above all, combat isolation and stigmatisation when they leave.A new breath for an often misunderstood department On the 9th floor of the Erasmus Hospital H.U.B, the South-East Psychiatry Unit cares for people suffering a severe crisis who are hospitalised under observation at the request of a judge. These are patients  whose mental suffering is such that, temporarily, they need a sheltered but secured environment. A necessary environment certainly, but one that isolates them from the outside world“Psychiatry is often viewed as a closed and even intimidating world,” explains Axelle Dejardin, a clinical psychologist.  “So what we are trying to do here is recreate connections, understanding and to reach out to those who are living with psychiatric problems without reducing them to their diagnosis.”  Image A unique alliance with the exterior The Pont de Connexion project, to be launched in October 2025, was born of a common conclusion, shared by colleagues exercising various functions, in particular:   Axelle Dejardin, psychologist; Mariana Athanassiu, specialised educator; Jalila Nsis, psychiatric nurse ; Sigried Apper, social worker; Ulrich Tchamba, psychiatric nurse; Dr. Youssouf Ramdani,  psychiatrist. Too often, after the 40 days under observation, patients are discharged without connections or support. This increases the risk of relapse and rehospitalisation.     It is at this point that the non-profit Similes and the Family Home Hospital Support (FHS) network, a collective of psychosocial workers trained to listen, can be so crucial in offering support for the patients and also their loved ones. Their approach? Open Dialogue: a model developed in Finland and based on transparency, inclusion, respect for the rhythm of the individual and a shared discourse. The patients are actors in their own care and can invite to meetings persons from their everyday life: friends, neighbours, GP, family. Creating a  bridge when in hospital, not afterThis project permits circle meetings, at the hospital itself, with certain patients, the Pont de Connexion team and the FHS network, in a reassuring space that invites dialogue. “We do not necessarily talk about the treatment but about life, plans, specific difficulties,” explains Mariana Athanassiu. “The idea is to connect the person to their resources, to reactivate links, so that being hospitalised under protective observation does not sever connections.” Every other Friday patients can attend an information session at the hospitalisation unit. The other Friday is devoted to meetings between the patient, the Pont de Connexion team and the FHS network.  Image A pilot project... and a collective ambition Support of this kind is rare at a general hospital, especially in a context of being placed under observation in which liberties are restricted. Yet the team believe in the positive impact of this project for the well-being of patients and care staff, the fluidity of care and a reduction in repeated hospitalisations. This symbolic bridge also sends a strong signal in combating stigmatisation. “Psychiatric disorders can affect anyone. We want to break the silence, show that there are human solutions that respect the individual and bring hope.” South-East Unit: crises and humanityThe unit receives adults experiencing a severe crisis (psychoses, serious mood disorders, addictive behaviour, etc.). In principle the period of hospitalisation is 40 days, decided by a justice of the peace. But the reality is more complex. “They are often patients without resources, without networks,”  explains Jalila Nsis, a nurse. Without resources some patients with a multiple diagnosis or in a vulnerable situation find it hard to find a place in an appropriate unit. The team therefore tries to respond to somatic and psychiatric emergencies with a lot of creativity and solidarity. For a more inclusive psychiatryTo this end, a number of therapeutic activities are also made available to patients and hospital staff:  creative workshops, relaxation sessions and movement workshops. This is a way of tearing down invisible walls, between disciplines, professions and pathologies. The unit would like to combat enduring clichés about psychiatry and give it a new image. An information screen will be installed in the entrance lobby and brochures will be made available. The team hopes that other hospitals will also decide to take this path. The Pont de Connexion project embodies a simple belief: psychiatry can and must be a place for rehabilitation, a coming together in dialogue and meaning.  “Illness does not erase the person. It must never erase the individual’s rights, dignity or need for contact,”   concludes Axelle Dejardin. Image Pont de Connexion – what to remember:Information sessions every 15 days for patientsMeetings with representatives from the Family Home Hospital Support (FHS) network at the unitLaunch: 3 October 2025Pilot project of the South-East Unit of the Department of Psychiatry at the H.U.B Erasmus Hospitalpontdeconnexion [dot] psy [dot] erasme [at] hubruxelles [dot] be (pontdeconnexion[dot]psy[dot]erasme[at]hubruxelles[dot]be) Our team

What is preimplantation genetic diagnosis? Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD or PGT) is a technique used to detect genetic abnormalities in an embryo created in vitro before implantation in the uterus. Earlier and less invasive than prenatal genetic testing, it offers couples carrying serious genetic disorders a significantly higher chance of having a child free from the targeted condition.PGD has been available at Erasmus Hospital since 1999 for chromosomal abnormalities and since 2004 for monogenic diseases. Aneuploidy screening, or PGT-A (Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidies), may also be offered to couples with a poor reproductive prognosis, as they are at increased risk of embryonic chromosomal abnormalities. This technique provides a complete molecular karyotype of the embryo, allowing the exclusion of abnormal, non-viable embryos and reducing time to pregnancy in this specific patient group.PGD allows embryo selection based on:Chromosomal content, including number and structure (balanced translocations, para- and pericentric inversions, deletions, duplications, or poor reproductive prognosis);Absence of abnormal genes, in carriers or patients affected by monogenic disorders such as cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, muscular dystrophies, Huntington’s disease, polycystic kidney disease, or mutations predisposing to certain cancers (BRCA1, BRCA2, etc.);Embryo sex, in cases of X-linked diseases, with optional direct analysis of the X-chromosome mutation. Medical services AssessmentEach PGD request is reviewed during a multidisciplinary meeting involving gynecologists, geneticists, biologists, and psychologists. If approved and no technical development is required, an IVF-PGD cycle can be scheduled.For very small chromosomal abnormalities and all monogenic diseases, prior technical development is mandatory. Blood samples from the couple and sometimes close relatives are required. This step is essential to ensure reliable PGD analysis. Development time ranges from 1–3 months for common indications to 9 months or more for complex or rare cases.In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)To maximize the chances of transferable embryos, an adequate number of oocytes is required, obtained through controlled ovarian hyperstimulation. Fertilization occurs in the Assisted Reproduction Laboratory using partner or donor sperm, followed by in vitro culture until biopsy.Biopsy is usually performed on day 5–7 (blastocyst stage). In rare cases requiring FISH, biopsy is done on day 3 (cleavage stage). One cell (cleavage) or 5–10 cells (blastocyst) are removed for genetic analysis.Cleavage-stage embryos remain in culture for potential fresh transfer on day 5. Blastocyst-stage embryos are cryopreserved while awaiting genetic results (maximum 6 weeks), and transfer is scheduled later.Genetic analysis techniquesPCR: DNA amplification for monogenic diseasesCGH-array (aCGH): full molecular karyotypingFISH: fluorescent in situ hybridization for rare small abnormalitiesSNP-array: genome-wide allele polymorphism detectionEmbryo transferOnly genetically unaffected embryos are transferred:Fresh transfer on day 5 after cleavage-stage biopsyFrozen-thawed transfer after blastocyst biopsy Advice Appointments and information:📞 +32 (0)2 555 64 32📧 DPI [dot] FIV [at] hubruxelles [dot] bePlease bring a complete medical file to your consultation. Focus PGD can also be used to:Detect cancer predisposition mutationsDetect late-onset disorders (e.g. Alzheimer’s disease)Exclude embryos without parental presymptomatic testingSelect HLA-compatible embryos for stem-cell transplantationPGD has been successfully applied to hundreds of genetic disorders. Success depends on maternal age, number of oocytes/embryos, disease type, and diagnostic efficiency. Additional IVF cycles may be required in some cases. Research The next technological objective is Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), allowing rapid, direct mutation detection without family studies, particularly useful for multiple genes or de-novo mutations. Our specialists PGD success relies on experience and teamwork. Our team has used this technology effectively for 25 years.Fertility Clinic – MAR (Medically Assisted Reproduction)Pr. Anne DELBAEREPr. Fabienne DEVREKERDr. Isabelle DUPONDDr. Asma SASSIPGD Coordinator: Mme Chantal Deleau : +32 (0)2 555 64 32, mail : DPI [dot] FIV [at] hubruxelles [dot] be (DPI[dot]FIV[at]hubruxelles[dot]be) Technical Coordinator: Mr Eric Gonzalez-MerinoDepartment of GeneticsClinical Geneticists:Pr. Guillaume SMITSPr. Isabelle VANDERNOOTDr. Sandra COPPENSSenior Genetics Staff:Adeline BUSSON  Marie-Laure GRENET  Marie BRUNEAUAlice LE MORILLON