AOU Federico II di Napoli

Italy

Overview

Centre information

The Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Federico II of Naples provides a comprehensive care of patients with rare liver diseases through a multidisciplinary approach including pediatric and adult hepatologists, radiologists, genetists and surgeons. The centre has developed clinical and scientific expertise in the field of liver disease over the past 35 years. The centre is involved in the management of rare liver diseases of both pediatric and adult ages, such as biliary atresia, progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis, primary biliary cholangitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis and autoimmune liver diseases. The AOU Federico II of Naples represents the most important centre for rare liver disease in South Italy.

The Paediatric Liver Unit at the Federico II University Hospital (AOU Federico II) in Naples provides multidisciplinary care for children with rare liver diseases. The team includes paediatric hepatologists, gastroenterologists, and specialists in clinical and artificial nutrition, neurology, genetics, radiology, psychology, and surgery, ensuring comprehensive management. Over the past 35 years, the centre has gained significant experience, particularly in the diagnosis and treatment of Wilson's disease (WD), treating patients from all over Italy. In addition to WD, the Paediatric Liver Unit at the Federico II University Hospital follows a large number of patients with biliary atresia, including those liver transplanted and long-term native liver survivors after Kasai portoenteroanastomosis.

This Unit also follows numerous patients with Alagille syndrome, PFICs, other genetic cholestasis, and vascular and malformative liver diseases. In addition to clinical work, the team is committed to research and training, collaborating nationally and internationally with Italian and European scientific societies (ESPGHAN, SIGENP, AISF) to develop clinical guidelines on paediatric liver diseases. The centre is involved in screening and early diagnosis programmes, particularly for biliary atresia and Wilson's disease, and promotes public awareness campaigns. A wide range of liver diseases, including Alagille syndrome, PFICs, primary sclerosing cholangitis, autoimmune hepatitis, and Crigler-Najjar syndrome, are managed with a patient- and family-centred approach, ensuring continuity from childhood to adulthood.

Paediatric Liver Unit (Paediatric Unit)

Key Contacts

Prof. Raffaele Iorio

Associate Professor of Paediatrics, University of Naples Federico II, Italy

HCP REPRESENTATIVE
Dr. Fabiola Di Dato

Paediatric Hepatologist, University of Naples Federico II, Italy

HCP SUB-REPRESENTATIVE

Information for Physicians and Patients

AOU Federico II

Paediatric Liver Unit

Via Sergio Pansini 5

80131 Naples, Italy

Phone: +39 8174 64337

Contacts: riorio@unina.it, fabiola.didato@unina.it, wilsonfederico@unina.it (Wilson Disease dedicated mailbox)

https://www.policlinico.unina.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/1

Team & Coordination

Prof. Raffaele Iorio, Paediatric Hepatologist (Chief of Paediatric Liver Unit) riorio@unina.it
Dr Fabiola Di Dato (Paediatric Hepatologist) fabiola.didato@unina.it
Dr Valeria Delle Cave (Paediatric Resident with experience in Paediatric Hepatology) valeria.dellecave@unina.it
Dr Margherita Matarazzo (Internist with particular expertise in the management of Wilson disease) mamatara212@gmail.com
Prof. Maria Immacolata Spagnuolo (Paediatrician with experience in clinical and artificial nutrition) mispagnu@unina.it
Prof. Giuliana Fortunato (Clinical Molecular Biology and Biochemistry) fortunat@unina.it
Prof. Olga Scudiero (Clinical Molecular Biology and Biochemistry) olga.scudiero@unina.it
Dr. Giuseppe Sarti (Interventional Radiologist) giuseppe.sarti@unina.it
Prof Fabio Tortora (Radiologist) fabio.tortora@unina.it
Dr Sirio Cocozza (Radiologist) sirio.cocozza@unina.it
Dr Emilia Vergara (Radiologist) emilia.vergara@unina.it
Dr Michele Amitrano (Radiologist) michele.amitrano@unina.it
Prof. Maria Rosaria D’Armiento (Pathologist) madarmie@unina.it
Prof. Anna De Rosa (Neurologists) anna.derosa1@unina.it
Prof. Gaetano Terrone (Paediatric Neurologist) gaetano.terrone@unina.it
Prof. Carmela Bravaccio (Paediatric Neuropsychiatrist) bravaccio@unina.it
Dr. Rosamaria Siracusano (Paediatric Neuropsychiatrist) rosamaria.siracusano@unina.it

Particular rare liver disease expertise

Biliary Atresia (BA)
Autoimmune Hepatitis (AIH)
Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC)
Wilson disease
Genetic Cholestatic Disease (GChD)
Progressive Familial Intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC)
Alagille Syndrome
Hereditary Hemochromatosis
Alpha-1-Antitrypsin Deficiency (A1ATD)
Choledochal Cyst
Hepatoblastoma
Congenital Bile acid synthesis defect
Congenital Fibrosis (CF)
Polycystic liver disease (PLD)
Biliary Malformations (BM)
Acute Liver Failure (ALF)
Vascular Liver Disease (VLD)

A Wilson Team is available to manage patients with Wilson disease. It allows the centre to take care of hepatic, neurological, psychiatric, gynaecological, ophthalmological, and childhood neuropsychiatric conditions in patients with Wilson disease. In addition, the team includes expert radiologists in liver ultrasonography and brain MRI and a reliable and efficient laboratory for copper serum and urine level determination and for the genetic diagnosis of Wilson disease. The centre also has more than 30 years of experience in the diagnosis and treatment of neonatal cholestasis on a genetic and non-genetic basis. Infants with cholestasis are referred from other hospitals in the region for the appropriate investigations, including genetic tests for neonatal cholestasis available in situ (CEINGE). Furthermore, the centre has extensive experience in the diagnosis and management of biliary atresia (including pre-transplant follow-up, nutritional care, and long-term surveillance of liver function and complications in children surviving with a native liver), Alagille syndrome, PFICs, autoimmune hepatitis and cholangitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and non-cirrhotic portal vein thrombosis.

Participation in ERN RARE-LIVER Working Groups

Autoimmune Hepatitis (AIH)
Wilson disease
Biliary Atresia (BA)
Genetic Cholestatic Disease (GChD)
Polycystic liver disease (PLD)
Biliary Malformations (BM)
Acute Liver Failure (ALF)
Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC)
Vascular Liver Disease (VLD)

Diseases of the Liver and Biliary System Unit (Adult Unit)