title: Rare diseases and orphan drugs: 500 years ago.
abstract: In 1581 Rembert Dodoens wrote "Medicinalium observationum exempla rara, recognita et aucta" a Latin book about the diagnosis and treatment of disorders with a low prevalence.
authors.affiliation: Universitaire Ziekenhuizen Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. dooms@evonet.be.
authors.forename: Marc M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Dooms
mesh_terms: D001530:Belgium; D049669:History, 16th Century; D006801:Humans; D009965:Orphan Drug Production / Q000266:history*; D035583:Rare Diseases / Q000266:history*