We are the combination of four hospitals: the General Hospital, the Children’s Hospital, the Women’s Hospital and the Traumatology, Rehabilitation and Burns Hospital. We are part of the Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus: a world-leading health park where healthcare plays a crucial role.
Patients are the centre and the core of our system. We are professionals committed to quality care and our organizational structure breaks down the traditional boundaries between departments and professional groups, with an exclusive model of knowledge areas.
Would you like to know what your stay at Vall d'Hebron will be like? Here you will find all the information.
The commitment of Vall d'Hebron University Hospital to innovation allows us to be at the forefront of medicine, providing first class care adapted to the changing needs of each patient.
Cognitive-behavioral disorders affect development and behavior, especially during early childhood. Early detection, observation by parents and pediatricians, and targeted interventions based on the cause help optimize learning and minimize long-term effects.
There are two basic aspects in the prevention, detection, and treatment of cognitive-behavioral disorders: observation by the parents and observation by the child’s pediatrician. This highlights the importance of routine visits to the pediatrician.
During the first year of life, stimulation through play and singing is fundamental. The brain’s plasticity for learning during the first year is higher than at any other stage of life, and the brain’s weight grows exponentially. Stimuli are essential; both smiling and passive limb mobilization naturally occur through play. Observing the child is also important to see which areas need more work, such as teaching them to roll over, crawl, or walk. In case of doubt or detection of a significant alteration, a multidisciplinary approach is necessary to establish the diagnosis and appropriate treatment as early as possible.
The treatment of cognitive-behavioral disorders depends on the specific condition detected.
Human genome ultra-sequencing now allows the detection of hundreds of genetic alterations from a small blood sample, from which genetic information is extracted. There are databases in all developed countries that work in a network, sharing information to compile sporadic cases worldwide for joint research into how these alterations affect behavior or learning in individuals.
Similarly, biochemical studies of the body’s metabolic pathways are increasingly comprehensive, allowing the design of specific drugs for each situation.
A treatment shift currently under development involves moving from the pill to the cell, aiming to work directly on the affected cell to modify its behavior. This approach is still very preliminary but is a field that is certain to see significant development in the future.
Leukaemia is a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow. It is the most common childhood cancer. In Spain, around 300 new cases are diagnosed each year, accounting for approximately one third of all paediatric malignant tumours.
In this disease, there is an uncontrolled proliferation of immature white blood cells, known as blasts, which accumulate in the bone marrow and interfere with the normal production of blood cells. These malignant cells can enter the bloodstream and infiltrate other organs.
There are two main types of leukaemia:
Acute myeloid leukaemia, which affects the myeloid cell line from which red blood cells, platelets and other white blood cells (neutrophils, monocytes, eosinophils and basophils) derive.
The most common symptoms at diagnosis are related to the accumulation of blasts in the bone marrow:
Less common but characteristic symptoms may include testicular enlargement, neurological symptoms or skin lesions.
The disease usually presents as a subacute condition over days or weeks, with initially non-specific symptoms that may resemble those of other, more common illnesses. If these symptoms persist or worsen, leukaemia should be considered as a possible cause.
The diagnostic process usually begins with a blood test, which may reveal abnormalities in white blood cell, haemoglobin and/or platelet levels. In some cases, leukaemic cells can be identified under the microscope.
The diagnosis is confirmed by bone marrow aspiration and analysis of the collected cells.
Additional tests may be carried out to assess involvement of other organs, including X-rays, ultrasound scans, echocardiography, eye examinations and blood tests.
The aim of treatment is to eliminate leukaemic cells and prevent relapse.
The Paediatric Oncology and Haematology team at Vall d’Hebron selects the most appropriate treatment for each child based on the type of leukaemia, age, genetic characteristics of the leukaemic cells and response to treatment.
Chemotherapy is the mainstay of treatment and is usually administered intravenously, often via an implanted port (port-a-cath). Intrathecal chemotherapy is required because many drugs do not cross the blood–brain barrier.
In recent years, new treatments such as precision medicine and immunotherapy, including monoclonal antibodies and CAR-T cell therapy, have shown excellent results. Some are now being incorporated into first-line treatment protocols. Vall d’Hebron offers access to a range of molecular and cellular therapy clinical trials.
The prognosis of acute childhood leukaemia has improved significantly. Five-year survival rates in Spain are now around 87 %.
However, 15–20 % of children experience relapse, often requiring more intensive treatment and, in many cases, haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. New therapies continue to improve outcomes in this group.
There is currently no known way to prevent childhood leukaemia. Although certain conditions increase susceptibility, the exact cause remains unknown. Environmental factors and viral infections have been investigated, but no clear evidence has been established.
The Inherited Heart Diseases Unit of the Cardiology Department is primarily dedicated to patient care. This Unit specialises in managing all types of heart muscle diseases, focusing on inherited ones.
This unit treats heart diseases involving the myocardium, where the heart muscle becomes weakened, enlarged, or has another structural issue. Often, this prevents the heart from pumping blood effectively or functioning correctly. As inherited heart diseases are relatively rare, they require specialised management, which goes beyond the expertise of a general clinical cardiologist. It is necessary to have specific treatments and access to appropriate technology.
The Epilepsy Unit provides specialised, high-quality care for both adult and paediatric patients with epilepsy. We are an international centre of excellence and have the largest multidisciplinary team of professionals in Spain offering personalised, comprehensive care for people with epilepsy, including diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing follow-up at our outpatient clinics.
At the Epilepsy Unit we provide expert, specialised care for adults and children with epilepsy. With over 20 years of experience, we are recognised internationally as a reference centre. Our multidisciplinary team offers personalised and comprehensive attention to each patient.
A genetic disorder is a disease that originates from an alteration in a gene. In order to diagnose a disease of this type, a DNA analysis must be carried out that allows the detection of mutations or hereditary changes.
Our DNA is like a great library that contains all the information that makes our body work. Each of the books on the shelves are our genes, and an error in one of them is called mutation. These mutations cause genes to not be read correctly, and alter the manufacture of proteins and, therefore, also some functions of our body, leading to different diseases.
Our body is protected from these genetic disorders by having duplicate DNA, that is, we all have two copies of each gene, one inherited from our father and the other from our mother. This means that the appearance of genetic disorders is conditioned by the number of copies we have altered.
In addition to the main hereditary types, there are cases that do not follow these basic rules. This is due to the existence of other less known factors that make each person manifest the disease in different ways:
In recent years, the study of genetic mutations has evolved exponentially, thanks to the appearance of improved techniques that allow us to sequence our genome, all our DNA. Sequencing is basically 'reading' and knowing the exact sequence each of our genes has. Therefore, depending on the situation, we will analyse a specific gene or we will have to go further and read larger areas of the genome. That is why we have several strategies:
The appearance and implementation of all these clinical techniques has led to giant leaps in the genetic diagnosis of many diseases, including dystonia and other movement disorders.
When we talk about genetic diseases we must be aware that the alteration is present in all the cells of our body and cannot be eliminated. New gene therapies focused on correcting the genetic error in some neurological diseases have been in development over the last few years.
Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental condition with an estimated lifetime prevalence of 1%. Basic symptoms include a lack of social communication, restricted or repetitive interests and activities, and sensorial anomalies starting during early childhood.
Autism was described for the first time in 1943 by the child psychiatrist Leo Kanner. Currently, according to the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V), the term Autism Spectrum Disorders refers to all those conditions that involve a lack of social communication, restricted or repetitive interests and activities, and sensorial anomalies starting during early childhood. All these conditions start to appear in early childhood even if they do not fully manifest until the person’s limited capacities stop them from responding to social needs.
Depending on the severity of the symptoms and the level of assistance required by the person, three different levels of intensity have been described (Level 1: requires help, Level 2: requires significant help, Level 3: requires large amount of help). It is important to determine whether the person also has an intellectual disability or language difficulties, if they are linked to a known medical or genetic pathology or environmental factor, if they are associated with another mental or behavioural neurological development condition, and if they are associated with autistic catatonia.
Genetics plays a fundamental role in the aetiology of autism spectrum disorders, together with pre-labour and neo-natal risk factors.
The common symptoms of all autistic spectrum disorders are:
Issues with socio-emotional reciprocity, non-verbal communication, and the development, maintenance and understanding of social relationships. And then, at least two of the following:
a) stereotyped or repetitive movements, use of objects, or speech.
b) cognitive rigidity
c) restricted interests and
d) hyper- or hypo-reactivity to sensorial stimulus or an unusual interest in the sensorial aspects of their surroundings
Autism spectrum disorders can be observed in people from around the world from all types of racial, ethnic and socio-economic groups. This disorder occurs 4 times more frequently in boys than in girls.
Diagnosis is based on observation by a child psychiatrist and paediatric neurologist.
An evaluation by a multidisciplinary team is also recommended. It is necessary to include an evaluation of the individual, an interview with his or her carers or other informants, information from the school or workplace, and to perform a cognitive and linguistic evaluation. Furthermore, a medical examination (blood and genetic tests and CAT scan) should be carried out in cases where a specific aetiology is suspected. Genetic tests can detect an aetiological cause in up to approximately 10% of cases.
At this stage, there is not enough scientific evidence to routinely recommend a specific pharmaceutical drug to address the symptoms of ASD. However, there are effective pharmaceutical drugs to treat the medical or psychiatric comorbidities that commonly occur with these disorders.
It is important to begin psychotherapeutic treatment as soon as possible, as well as to adopt educational strategies in the classroom in line with the seriousness of the psychiatric disorder.
Early detection, psychotherapeutic treatment and various educational approaches substantially improve the learning and social behaviour of the person affected, helping them to have an everyday quality of life with a certain degree of autonomy and independence.
Research into the brain’s structure and connectivity in parallel with genetic studies is paving the way towards being about to think more about effective treatments for this disorder. In fact, there are currently various clinical trials under way whose therapeutic target is the basic symptoms of ASD.
There is a series of clinical trials that can help rule out other associated presentations or a specific aetiology such as electroencephalography and CAT scans, as well as analytic tests to rule out metabolic illnesses. A genetic test is required if there are suspicions of a specific genetic alteration.
Visits to the paediatrician to monitor the evolution of a healthy child are fundamental for early detection.
Analytical testing provides a lot of information which enables the origin and severity of the kidney disease to be established. A kidney biopsy allows a microscopic study that is often essential. Genetic testing also provides very important information.
These tests serve to determine the origin of the kidney disease. There are many causes that may be genetic or acquired via a bacterial or viral infection, or resulting from a metabolic disease (diabetes) or an autoimmune disease such as lupus.
In addition to blood and urine tests, a kidney biopsy and/or a genetic analysis, imaging tests can also be useful.
A kidney biopsy may produce minimal bleeding that almost always stops by itself. If it doesn't, it can be controlled using an interventional radiology procedure, whereby the kidney is catheterised to close the area of bleeding. Genetic testing is increasingly used to decrease the need for a kidney biopsy. However, kidney biopsy continues to be the main diagnostic method for kidney disease.
Hereditary angioedema is such a rare disease that it is little-known even among healthcare workers. This means that in this case the patients themselves particularly need to know how to act in the event of an emergency, especially when they are not in their usual environment or are far away from their medical team.
It is advisable, as far as possible, to avoid possible triggers or aggravators of attacks:
The following symptoms indicate a suspected case:
The doctor must make a correct differential diagnosis in order to rule out other causes, such as appendicitis.
In this case it is important to remain calm and follow the doctor’s instructions. Here is some general advice:
1. Ask someone to help you explain what is happening to you.
2. Have the clinical report issued to you by your doctor at the ready.
3. If you have rescue or emergency medication (intravenous Berinert® or Cinryze®, or subcutaneous Firazyr®):
4. Go to your nearest health centre for emergency treatment.
5. Make an appointment with your specialist once the immediate crisis has been dealt with.
In the case of a significant symptom burden in type I and II angioedemas, C1-INH may be administered as a prophylaxis.
Can I give blood?
It is not advisable for patients with hereditary angioedema of any type or acquired C1-inhibitor deficiency to donate blood.
Long or foreign tips
We recommend you take an up-to-date copy of the clinical report issued by your doctor with you. It is a good idea to have the report translated into the language of your destination, or English.
Find out where the nearest healthcare centre is.
Always carry rescue or emergency medication with you and make sure it has not expired. Have your medical report to hand at security controls at airports or railway stations to avoid problems.
Diet
You do not have a follow a special diet because it is not an allergic oedema, and it is not caused or triggered by a food allergy.
Diet does not have any impact on the evolution of the disease. You should, of course, follow the healthy diet recommendations issued to everyone.
Kidney diseases affect how the kidneys function, as they are responsible for filtering blood and removing waste. Maintaining a balanced diet, proper hydration, and healthy habits is key to preserving kidney function and preventing complications.
The kidneys benefit from a healthy diet, from a relatively high intake of water and from avoiding tobacco. Regular bowel and bladder movements are also essential. Constipation and delaying urination are both damaging to kidney function.
Plain water without anything dissolved in it is necessary for good kidney function, apart from liquids such as milk and broth and drinks such as tea and coffee. The amount of urine a healthy person produces varies depending on how much water they drink, the air temperature, whether they are at rest or doing exercise, etc. A healthy adult would normally required 1 to 2 litres per day. Kidney function does not necessarily improve if excessive water is consumed.
Exercise and a diet rich in fibre encourage healthy bowel and bladder movements and improve kidney function. In terms of related conditions, often diabetes, good metabolic control of the diabetes is essential to preserve good kidney function. Controlling arterial pressure, which often has an unknown cause, is also vital to maintain good kidney function.
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