Mucoviscidosis and transplants
The intensive treatment given after a positive diagnosis, aims to postpone damage to the lungs for as long as possible, to maintain weight and growth and to stabilise the patient as much as possible, without loss of function in the organs. For patients with irreparable damage to their lungs as a result of Mucoviscidosis, a lung transplant is often the last remedy. The criteria applicable to lung transplants are: multiple hospital admissions for intravenous antibiotics treatments, a marked deterioration in the lung functionality parameters, a mounting loss of weight, oxygen deficiency and a significantly diminished quality of life. Lung transplants are seen as the last therapeutic resource.
In view of its geographic proximity, UZ Brussel works closely with the Erasmus ULB Hospital’s Transplant Team, which in 2009 celebrated its 25th year of existence. In the near future, additional, alternative cooperation will be looked into with UZ Antwerpen, UZ Leuven and UZ Gent. Conducting about 30 lung transplants each year, the Erasmus Hospital has developed great expertise. Waiting times for a donor organ have diminished in recent years, amounting to 113 days on average for the last 50 transplants conducted at the Erasmus Hospital. In recent years, patients’ survival rates have also increased significantly. With the latest transplant patients (2004-2007), the survival rate 3 years after a transplant is 83%, after 10 years the current average is 51%. These results are fully in line with the results achieved by the best European and American transplant centres. The steady improvements in medication against organ rejection will undoubtedly also lead to further longevity gains.
Dr. Knoop (the Transplant Team’s pneumologist at the Erasmus Hospital) holds consultations at our centre every month, to supervise patients on the transplant list.