To date, five viruses have been identified that target the liver and cause inflammatory infection. These viruses are referred to by the letters A, B, C, D and E, and vary according to their transmission mode (fecal-oral for A and E, parenteral for B and C) and their aggressive profile. Viral hepatitis is a major health problem with approximately half a billion people infected world-wide. The infection is characterized by mild to severe disease, including jaundice, fever, myalgia, nausea, fatigue, vomiting, fatty liver, cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer. Prof. Russo’ group is interested in clinical outcomes, translational studies, and therapeutic clinical trials for chronic hepatitis B, C and D and liver transplant-related issues. Recently we have been also involved in different studies regarding the immunological response to sars-Cov-2 vaccination in patients with liver disease.

Publications

1. Russo FP, Burra P, Zanetto A. COVID-19 and liver disease: where are we now?. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2022 May;19(5):277-278
2. Russo FP, Zanetto A, Pinto E, Battistella S, Penzo B, Burra P, Farinati F. Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Chronic Viral Hepatitis: Where Do We Stand? Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Jan 2;23(1):500. doi: 10.3390/ijms23010500. PMID: 35008926; PMCID: PMC8745141.
3. Russo FP, Piano S, Bruno R, Burra P, Puoti M, Masarone M, Montagnese S, Ponziani FR, Petta S, Aghemo A; Italian Association for the Study of the Liver. Italian association for the study of the liver position statement on SARS-CoV2 vaccination. Dig Liver Dis. 2021 Jun;53(6):677-681. doi: 10.1016/j.dld.2021.03.013. Epub 2021 Apr 30. PMID: 33941488; PMCID: PMC8086184.
4. Kondili LA, Aghemo A, Andreoni M, Galli M, Rossi A, Babudieri S, Nava F, Leonardi C, Mennini FS, Gardini I, Russo FP. Milestones to reach Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) elimination in Italy: From free-of-charge screening to regional roadmaps for an HCV-free nation. Dig Liver Dis. 2022 Feb;54(2):237-242. doi: 10.1016/j.dld.2021.03.026. Epub 2021 Apr 27. PMID: 33926816.
5. Zanetto A, Simioni P, Russo FP. Hepatic benefits of HCV cure: Don't forget coagulation! J Hepatol. 2021 Apr;74(4):967-968. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2020.10.031. Epub 2020 Dec 16. PMID: 33340585.

Funding:

Ordinary department funding.

People involved:

Francesco Paolo Russo, Associate Professor
Fabio Farinati, Full Professor
Patrizia Burra, Full Professor
Nora Cazzagon, Assistant Professor
Alberto Zanetto, Assistant Professor

Group members:

Martina Gambato (consultant Hepatologist), Sara Shalaby  (Gastroenterologist and PhD student), Sara Battistella, Giorgia Corrà (GI and Liver Fellows), Paola Zanaga (Study Coordinator)