PATHOPHYSIOLOGY, CLINICAL FEATURES, AND MANAGEMENT OF CHILDREN WITH CHRONIC LIVER DISEASES

our research starts from the assumption that only knowledge of unexplored aspects can be an important tool for advancing into the management of hepatic disorders in children. It should be a contribute to both provide a framework to understand pathophisiology of some hepatobiliary disorders and offer analyses of their clinical-laboratory manifestations and the strategies for managing them. This project might be also useful to create specific competences related to a integrated and multidisciplinary approach, as required in pediatric liver disease. Our study concerns four areas that still present several either pathogenetic or diagnostic uncertainties, focusing on the following aspects: 1. Role of cellular immunity in the pathogenesis of Biliary Atresia. 2. New clinical and therapeutic aspects in pediatric autoimmune liver disease. 3.Pediatric liver transplant: immunological features and complication of calcineurin inhibitors treatment. 4. Broadening the spectrum of UDCA indications