The Hepatology Operative Unit (DSOU) is responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of liver and biliary tract diseases.
The main conditions treated include:
- Neoplastic diseases: both malignant (e.g., primary liver carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma) and benign (e.g., focal nodular hyperplasia, adenomas, cysts, hemangiomas).
- Metabolic disorders, such as hepatic steatosis and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), currently the leading cause of liver disease in Italy.
- Viral diseases, including acute and chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis caused by hepatitis C, B, Delta, A, and E viruses.
- Autoimmune diseases, such as autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cholangitis, and primary sclerosing cholangitis, the latter classified as a rare disease.
- Iron and copper accumulation disorders, such as hemochromatosis and Wilson’s disease, both classified as rare diseases.
- Other rare diseases, including Gaucher disease, Alagille syndrome, progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis, Budd-Chiari syndrome, Caroli disease, and congenital hepatic fibrosis.
The Unit conducts routine diagnostic procedures, including: Upper abdominal ultrasound, Doppler ultrasound of abdominal vessels, Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), Liver elastography (FibroScan) with M and XL probes and Controlled Attenuation Parameter (CAP) evaluation, Liver biopsies.
Since 2012, the Unit has been actively involved in clinical trials, introducing direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapies for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Italy. Currently, it participates in international clinical studies on novel treatments for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), primary biliary cholangitis, and primary sclerosing cholangitis.
The Unit’s services are organized into:
- Daily outpatient clinics.
- Daily Day Hospital services.
- Daily Day Service activities.
The Unit also manages a research laboratory that provides:
- Diagnostic tests for rare diseases, including Wilson’s disease and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.
- Diagnostics for Gilbert’s syndrome and polycystic liver disease.
- Genetic polymorphism analysis related to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.
- Sequencing of hepatitis viruses.
- ELISA testing for anti-LKM and anti-LC1 antibodies.
The Unit cares for over 5,000 patients with HCV-related hepatitis (as a regional prescribing center for direct-acting antivirals), more than 4,000 patients with HBV-related hepatitis (monoinfected or coinfected with hepatitis C or Delta, also as a regional prescribing center), and over 250 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (as a regional prescribing center for immunotherapy drugs).
The Unit organizes an annual international conference on hepatology.
Scientific and Outreach Activities:
Since its establishment in 2009, the Unit has conducted genetic research in collaboration with IRCCS “Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza,” with a focus on host genetics in HCV infection. Its scientific output is demonstrated by the H-index of 57 of its head and over 250 publications, averaging more than 10 full papers annually. Additionally, the Unit head has participated as a Faculty member in over 500 international conferences and courses.
Clinical Trials:
The Unit leads more than 10 international clinical trials on innovative drugs for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and conducts Phase II studies on primary biliary cholangitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis.
Pediatric clinical studies on the use of DAAs for HCV infection are also ongoing.
