ERKNet Reference Center

Institution

Bari, AOU Consorziale policlinico di Bari-Ospedale Pediatrico Giovanni XXIII

Center

Adult Nephrology Unit

Description

The University Hospital “Policlinico” Ospedale Giovanni XXIII (HCP) is a public university hospital involved in the management of adult and pediatric patients with renal diseases at all stages, from diagnosis to treatment. The Adult Nephrology Unit within the HCP offers a wide range of medical expertise allowing in-depth explorations of renal pathologies and personalized therapeutic management. It also ensures the transition from pediatric to adult nephrology. The medical team has internationally recognized experts in the investigation and management of immune-mediated glomerulonephritis, nephrotic syndromes, nephropathies related to hematological or autoimmune diseases and inherited renal diseases, and the Nephrology Unit has been identified as Regional Reference Center for Rare Diseases (DGR 329/2018). The mission of the Nephrology Unit is to provide a global, multi-disciplinary health care service specifically directed to patients with the following rare diseases: thrombotic microangiopathies, hereditary glomerulopathies (primary and secondary, hereditary and acquired), immuno-mediated glomerulopathies (including membranous nephropathy, IgA nephropathy, vasculitis, and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis), autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). The Center provides health care for over 1000 inpatients and more than 3000 outpatients per year. Its mission is devoted to: • perform timely diagnosis of renal diseases, by clinical/instrumental examination and, when possible, genetic testing • provide evidence-based medical treatments for disease manifestations in all potentially involved organs, according to international guidelines • ensure health care management for clinical consequences due to chronic/acute disease-related manifestations, both by direct care in our hospital setting and by counselling towards other specialists/general practitioners/patients • disseminate knowledge on renal rare disease treatment and prevention among patients and their families, the general population, as well as medical specialists/practitioners/ students • Deepen the knowledge about thus-far poorly elucidated aspects of renal rare diseases, by taking part in annual congresses, international seminars, and panel discussions. • Foster international research about genotype-phenotype correlation, the rate of progression, and novel therapeutic options.

Team

Senior clinician experts
	Loreto Gesualdo (HCP Lead) [e-mail]
Junior clinician experts
	Marica Giliberti [e-mail]
	Giovanni Piscopo [e-mail]
Clinicians in training
	Flavia Capaccio [e-mail]
Clinical geneticists
	Adele Mitrotti [e-mail]
Nephropathologists
	Anna Maria Di Palma [e-mail]
	Michele Rossini [e-mail]
Laboratory researchers
	Ighli Di Bari [e-mail]
	Paola Pontrelli [e-mail]
Clinical research coordinators
	Cesira Cafiero [e-mail]