Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious diseases

Hepatotropic viruses related diseases

Senior physician

Caterina Uberti-Foppa

The general mission of the unit is to translate new biologic knowledge on hepatotropic viruses from the bench to the bedside. To do this, the laboratory and clinical team strictly works on the molecular basis of hepatitis B, C and chronic liver diseases.

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Research activity

The main end point is to offer a better management of hepatitis virus related diseases from acute to chronic course, a tailored treatment, new non-invasive methods and algorithms for establishing liver fibrosis. The clinical research activity is also focused on the conduction of multicentric, international phase II and phase III clinical trials involving new molecules for the treatment of HBV and HCV infection, particularly in special populations such as HIV infected patients and in liver transplanted individuals.

Selected publications

Bagaglio S, Uberti-Foppa C, Morsica G. Resistance mechanisms in hepatitis C virus: implications for direct-acting antiviral use. Drugs 2017 Jul;77(10):1043-1055.

Hasson H, Merli M, Messina E, Bhoori S, Salpietro S, Morsica G, Regalia E, Bagaglio S, Lazzarin A, Uberti-Foppa C, Mazzaferro V. Occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma in HIV/HCV co-infected patients treated with direct-acting antivirals. J Hepatol. 2017 Aug;67(2):415–417.

Bagaglio S, Andolina A, Merli M, Uberti-Foppa C, Morsica G. Frequency of natural resistance within NS5a replication complex domain in hepatitis C genotypes 1a, 1b: possible implication of subtype-specific resistance selection in multiple direct acting antivirals drugs combination treatment.Viruses 2016 Mar 25;8(4):91.

Merli M, Messina E, Salpietro S, Lazzarin A, Uberti-Foppa C, Hasson H. Marked decrease in lymphocyte count in HIV/Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)-coinfected patients with advanced liver disease during anti-HCV treatment with direct-acting antiviral regimens including Ribavirin. Clin Infect Dis. 2016 Feb 15;62(4):527-8.

Bagaglio S, Uberti-Foppa C, Di Serio C, Trentini F, Andolina A, Hasson H, Messina E, Merli M, Porrino L, Lazzarin A, Morsica G. Dynamic of mixed HCV infection in plasma and PBMC of HIV/HCV patients under treatment with Peg-IFN/Ribavirin. Medicine (Baltimore) 2015 Oct; 94(43): e1876.

Hasson H, Merli M, Galli L, Gallotta G, Carbone A, Messina E, Bagaglio S, Morsica G, Salpietro S, Castagna A, Lazzarin A, Uberti-Foppa C. Non-invasive fibrosis biomarkers - APRI and Forns - are associated with liver stiffness in HIV-monoinfected patients receiving antiretroviral drugs. Liver Int. 2013 Aug;33(7):1113-20

Morsica G, Bagaglio S, Cicconi P, Capobianchi MR, Pellizzer G, Caramello P, Orani A, Moioli C, Rizzardini G, Uberti-Foppa C, Puoti M, Monforte AD; Hepa I.C.o.N.A the Icona Foundation Study Groups. Viral interference between hepatitis B, C, and D viruses in dual and triple infections in HIV-positive patients. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2009 Aug 15;51(5):574-81.

Uberti-Foppa C, De Bona A, Galli L, Sitia G, Gallotta G, Sagnelli C, Paties C, Lazzarin A. Liver fibrosis in HIV-positive patients with hepatitis C virus: role of persistently normal alanine aminotransferase levels. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2006 Jan 1;41(1):63-7.

Uberti-Foppa C, De Bona A, Morsica G, Galli L, Gallotta G, Boeri E, Lazzarin A. Pretreatment of chronic active hepatitis C in patients coinfected with HIV and hepatitis C virus reduces the hepatotoxicity associated with subsequent antiretroviral therapy. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2003 Jun 1;33(2):146-52.

Ledergerber B, Mocroft A, Reiss P, Furrer H, Kirk O, Bickel M, Uberti-Foppa C, Pradier C, D'Arminio Monforte A, Schneider MM, Lundgren JD; Eight European Study Groups. Discontinuation of secondary prophylaxis against Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in patients with HIV infection who have a response to antiretroviral therapy. Eight European Study Groups. N Engl J Med. 2001 Jan 18;344(3):168-74.