Clinical trials

105

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Condition / disease
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Status: Not yet recruiting

Percutaneous Stellate Ganglion Block as First Line Treatment in Patients With Electrical Storm: the STAR 2 Study

Electrical storm (ES) is a life-threatening condition characterized by recurrent episodes of ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF) requiring anti-tachycardia pacing or defibrillator shocks. Despite advances in management, ES remains associated with high morbidity and mortality, and current pharmacological options are often insufficient or slow-acting. The STAR 2 study is a multicentre, randomized, open-label, adaptive superiority trial designed to evaluate whether percutaneous stellate ganglion block (PSGB) as first-line therapy is superior to intravenous amiodarone in patients with ES. The primary hypothesis is that PSGB administered as initial treatment will result in a higher proportion of patients achieving complete suppression of treated ventricular arrhythmias during the first three hours after treatment compared with intravenous amiodarone. Adult patients presenting with electrical storm, defined as three or more episodes of fast VT/VF (cycle length \<400 ms) treated by internal or external defibrillator within the preceding 12 hours, including at least one episode in the three hours before randomization, will be eligible for participation. Patients will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either PSGB or intravenous amiodarone as first-line treatment. In the intervention arm, patients will undergo left PSGB using a combination of 200 mg lidocaine and 50 mg bupivacaine injected percutaneously at the level of the left stellate ganglion. The procedure may be repeated once within the first three hours in case of arrhythmic recurrence, without exceeding maximum recommended doses. In the control arm, patients will receive intravenous amiodarone according to a standardized protocol consisting of a 300-mg loading dose over 30 minutes followed by 900 mg infused over 18-24 hours. The primary outcome is the proportion of patients with complete suppression of treated ventricular arrhythmias (defined as VT/VF episodes requiring anti-tachycardia pacing, internal cardioverter-defibrillator shock, or external defibrillator shock) during the first three hours after treatment administration. Secondary outcomes include time to first recurrence of ventricular arrhythmia within three hours, per-patient rate of treated ventricular arrhythmias in the first three and twelve hours after treatment, crossover rate between treatment arms, survival to hospital discharge, and survival at one month. Safety outcomes will include procedure- and drug-related complications and adverse events. The study plans to enroll up to 180 patients across multiple centres. An adaptive design with pre-specified interim analyses for futility and efficacy will be employed, allowing for early termination if predefined statistical boundaries are crossed. Participants will be followed throughout hospitalization and for 30 days after discharge. This trial aims to provide robust evidence on the comparative effectiveness and safety of PSGB versus standard antiarrhythmic therapy when used as first-line treatment in patients with electrical storm, potentially supporting a shift in current management strategies.

Participants needed: 180
Trial details
Phase: Phase 3Age: 18+Biological sex: AllType: InterventionalSponsor: Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo di PaviaUpdated: Sep 29, 2026Locations: 1
Eligibility criteria

Age ≥ 18 years [+5]

Brugada syndrome or early repolarization syndrome [+10]

Status: Not yet recruiting

Measurement of Efferent Neural Drive From Respiratory Centers to Upper Airways Using Electromyography (EMG) of Genioglossus (GG) in Patients Dependent on Invasive Mechanical Ventilation

Muscle activity in the upper airway is influenced by specific states such as anesthesia, sleep, wakefulness, and the phases of respiration. The hypoglossal nerve, which innervates the genioglossus muscle, receives input from the brain's sleep-wake center, respiratory pattern-generating neurons, chemoreceptors, and airway negative pressure receptors. Preliminary activation of the genioglossus muscle and other upper airway dilators by the hypoglossal nerve occurs approximately 50-200 ms before innervation of the phrenic motor neurons and the subsequent action of the diaphragm. The forward movement of the genioglossus increases the stiffness and diameter of the upper airway, effectively counteracting collapse forces during inspiration. Assessing genioglossus function could prove critical in determining the optimal timing for extubation. This requires a methodology to evaluate the upper airway by measuring genioglossus activity in intubated patients. In the future, this could provide an objective measure for assessing suitability for extubation. This study explores a method for measuring the electrical activity of the upper airway muscles and the diaphragm in ventilated patients and correlates the results in a systematic view.

Participants needed: 10
Trial details
Age: 18+Biological sex: AllType: InterventionalSponsor: Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo di PaviaUpdated: Sep 25, 2026Locations: 1
Eligibility criteria

Age 18 years or older. [+3]

Known pregnancy [+5]

Status: Recruiting

AirGo™ Respiratory Monitoring in Lung Resection

Patients undergoing lung resection surgery may experience changes in respiratory function during the perioperative period. Current monitoring methods provide important clinical information but are often limited to specific time points and may not allow continuous assessment of ventilation. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and usefulness of the AirGo™ wearable respiratory monitoring system in patients undergoing anatomical lung resection (lobectomy or segmentectomy). AirGo™ is a non-invasive, CE-marked device that continuously measures respiratory parameters, including minute ventilation and respiratory rate, through a chest-worn sensor. Participants will wear the AirGo™ device before surgery and during the postoperative period. Respiratory parameters collected by AirGo™ will be analyzed at predefined time points and compared with standard clinical monitoring methods routinely used in postoperative care, including pulse oximetry and telemetry. The primary objective is to assess changes in mean minute ventilation from the preoperative period to the first postoperative day. Secondary objectives include evaluating perioperative respiratory trends, patient comfort and compliance with the device, and the agreement between AirGo™ measurements and standard monitoring systems. The results of this study may help determine whether continuous non-invasive respiratory monitoring can improve the assessment and management of patients undergoing lung surgery.

Participants needed: 20
Trial details
Age: 21-80Biological sex: AllType: InterventionalSponsor: Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo di PaviaUpdated: Sep 24, 2026Locations: 1
Eligibility criteria

Patients scheduled for minimally invasive anatomical lung resection, specificall... [+3]

Pre-operative presence of pneumothorax and/or pleural effusion [+12]

Status: Recruiting

Patient Experiences After Risk-Reducing Mastectomy Among Women Carrying BRCA1/2 Pathogenic Variants Without a Diagnosis of Breast Cancer

This is a descriptive, exploratory cross-sectional, single-center national study. The study asks a sample of women carrying pathogenic variants associated with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer who have undergone risk-reducing mastectomy (MRR) and have signed informed consent to complete an interview developed on the REDCap platform and sent to their personal email address. The aim of the study is to investigate patients' experiences of satisfaction and their correlations with variables included in the survey, based on evidence from the scientific literature. These variables include aspects derived from the literature and clinical practice, such as: motivations for choosing to undergo MRR, type of surgical procedure performed, type of reconstruction, presence of residual sensitivity, possible postoperative complications, and the number of surgical procedures required to achieve the final outcome; stability of the couple relationship, partner support, impact of surgery on sexuality, the key question regarding the decision to undergo MRR (question no. 11), and whether the participant would recommend the same pathway to others. In addition, the survey includes items derived from the Body Image Scale (Hopwood et al., 2001), translated and validated in Italian (Italian version: Cheli et al., 2016), appropriately adapted to assess the same variable in relation to the MRR procedure (questions no. 2, 4, 6, and 8). Finally, the last section of the survey includes administration of the 12-Item Short Form Survey (SF-12), a widely used measure of quality of life. The questionnaires included in the survey will be appropriately indicated.

Participants needed: 100
Trial details
Age: 25-70Biological sex: FemaleType: ObservationalSponsor: Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo di PaviaUpdated: Sep 16, 2026Locations: 1
Eligibility criteria

Female patients aged 18 years or older. [+8]

Status: Not yet recruiting

Inflammation, Autoimmunity and Healthy Ageing in Menopause Transition. An Observational, Cross-sectional Study

The goal of this observational study is to investigate the prevalence of autoimmune or immune-mediated conditions in women during the menopausal transition (aged 40-60 years). The main questions it aims to answer are: * What is the prevalence of autoimmune or immune-mediated conditions in women aged 40-60 years across different reproductive stages? * How do inflammatory markers, resilience, lifestyle factors, and allostatic load scores relate to menopause-related symptoms and general health? Participants will complete evaluations, provide samples for clinical, immunological, and biochemical markers, and undergo assessments to analyze symptom burden and psychosocial determinants during the menopausal transition.

Participants needed: 300
Trial details
Age: 40-60Biological sex: FemaleType: ObservationalSponsor: Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo di PaviaUpdated: Aug 25, 2026Locations: 1
Eligibility criteria

women aged 40-60 years referred to the menopause and gastroenterological outpati...

inability to give consent

Status: Recruiting

Natural History of Eosinophilic Esophagitis in Adult and Pediatric Population

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a Th2-mediated disease induced by ingestion of ambiental and alimentary allergens. Incidence of EoE is increasing in recent years. Young male subjects are more often affected by EoE. Esophageal eosinophilic infiltrate causes different symptoms of esophageal dysfunction (i.e. dysphagia, food impaction, chest pain, heartburn). In pediatric population symptoms are nonspecific (failure to thrive, vomiting) and more common to be misdiagnosed. Symptoms are commonly sporadic and underestimated by the patients. Therefore, specialistic evaluations are often delayed during the following months and years. Moreover, esophageal symptoms are often not investigated or associated with other diseases especially in pediatric population (i.e. gastroesophageal reflux disease). For this reason, diagnosis of EoE is often delayed. It is known from literature that diagnostic delay in EoE causes prolonged inflammation of the esophagus that may lead to esophageal fibrosis and stenosis with worsening of symptoms. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and topical steroids are the first line medicines to induce EoE remission. Prolonged clinical remission is described in 60% of adult patients with PPIs. Recently orodispersible budesonide showed clinical remission after 1 year nearby in 90% of adult patients. Orodispersible budesonide is effective also in chidren with an efficacy in maintaining remission at lowest effective dosage after 60 weeks in around 78% of patients. Dysphagia Symptom Questionnaire (DSQ) is a validated tool used in order to measure clinical activity (dysphagia) in adult and pediatric patients with EoE. Italian version of the DSQ is not available in literature. Little is known in literature about the natural history of EoE patients, in particular about sustained clinical remission and appearance of complications (i.e. food impaction) during a prolonged follow-up period. Aim of our two-phase prospective study is to evaluate the clinical and endoscopic response at the current available therapies and the appearance of complications during a prolonged follow-up period in a cohort of adult and pediatric population.

Participants needed: 200
Trial details
Age: 5+Biological sex: AllType: ObservationalSponsor: Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo di PaviaUpdated: Jun 29, 2026Locations: 2
Eligibility criteria

patients with an established diagnosis of Eosinophilic esophagitis; [+2]

under 5 years old; [+2]

Status: Not yet recruiting

Evaluation of biomArkers for Quick SEpsis Diagnosis - ErASED Study

Since the "Sepsis-3" consensus statement in 2016, sepsis has been defined as a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. Recognition of sepsis is mostly based on clinical criteria. To aid diagnosis, a wide range of biomarkers has been identified, however, with few exceptions such as procalcitonin, none is part of the routine assessment of a septic patient. Proadrenomedullin, serum calprotectin and a score of combined values of IL-6 + IL-8 + IL-10 + MCP-1 have been proposed as biomarkers to aid diagnosis and predict prognosis in sepsis, but data about their kinetics and their correlation to mortality, organ dysfunction and microbiological diagnosis is still lacking. The aim is at prospectically studying their kinetics in clinically septic patients during the first hours of their presentation in our Emergency Department, with the aim of assessing their ability to distinguish sepsis from other causes of life-threatening organ dysfunction and disease severity. Patients will be thus divided in cases (culture-confirmed infection) and controls (patient without demonstrated cause of infection). Secondary objectives will evaluate the correlation between the biomarkers' values, mortality, admission to Intensive Care Unit and organ dysfunction. In patients with confirmed infection, moreover, we will correlate biomarkers with the etiological diagnosis. The expectetion is to be able to enrol at least 120 patients in 12 months. With this number of subjects, it will be possible to detect significant differences in the mean values of the biomarkers with a power of 90% and a type I error of 5%. Analyses will produce summary indicators to synthesize the kinetics of the biomarkers including area under the curve, percentage of time spent over a critical threshold (e.g., the 75th percentile of the values), and variability indicators such as standard deviation and difference between the last and the first value. Time series among groups will be analysed with standard statistical techniques such as repeated ANOVA and advanced temporal clustering techniques. For the secondary objectives will be used the Wilcoxon test with suitable post hoc strategies to correct for multiple comparisons.

Participants needed: 2
Trial details
Age: 18+Biological sex: AllType: ObservationalSponsor: Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo di PaviaUpdated: Jun 17, 2026Locations: 1
Eligibility criteria

All patients ≥18 years old meeting criteria for organ dysfunction identified as... [+2]

Patients with an history of recent traumatic injury. [+1]

Status: Recruiting

SMAtteo COvid19 REgistry (SMACORE)

Since the start of the COVID-19, Italy, and particularly the Northern region, Lombardia, has initially been the centre of the most numerous reports of confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the spread of the infection to Europe, reaching 5469 cases out of 9172 total cases in Italy (corresponding to 0.054% of the region population) within 2 weeks from the identification of the first Italian case at the end of February 2020. Data updated at 25 March 2020 reported 7503 deaths out of 57521cases in Italy. The overall number of patients requiring admission to hospital reached 23112, with another 3489 needing intensive care unit (ICU) management (4). The "Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo" Pavia's main teaching and research hospital has become one of the main COVID Centers for the treatment of the disease. Several departments have been reassigned to the sole hospitalization of COVID-19 patients in addition to the Infectious Disease Department and the Intensive Care (ICU). Moreover, a dedicated emergency room (ER) has been set up. All these measures have given rise to a large amount of clinical, imaging and laboratory data originating from different sources as well data regarding to type and length of stay in each of the ER, medical departments and ICU, that are of use for diagnostic and prognostic purposes. Also the Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo has information obligations towards the Regional (Regione Lombardia) and National (Istituto Superiore di Sanità, ISS) authorities. For these reasons we plan to set up a structured registry to collect these information on our Covid-19 patients using the secured REDCap platform resident on a server of the local Informative Services.

Participants needed: 1,000
Trial details
Biological sex: AllType: ObservationalSponsor: Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo di PaviaUpdated: May 19, 2026Locations: 1Duration: 1 Day
Eligibility criteria

diagnosis of Covid-19

Status: Recruiting

A Registry to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of Transcatheter Treatment for Aortic Valve Disease at the IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Foundation in Pavia (Italy).

PAVI-TAVI Registry Overview The PAVI-TAVI Registry is an observational study at Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo in Pavia, Italy. It tracks real-world outcomes of transcatheter heart valve procedures like TAVI (for aortic stenosis), valve-in-valve (VIV), TAVI for aortic insufficiency (TAVI-IAo), and TMVR (for degenerated mitral valves) in patients over 18 years old. Who Can Join Eligible patients include adults treated with these procedures on native aortic valves, failed aortic bioprostheses, or degenerated mitral prostheses/rings. The only exclusion is not providing informed consent. Study Goals The main goal is to evaluate TAVI's safety and effectiveness over 5 years, focusing on all-cause mortality from the initial procedure. Secondary goals assess complication rates, valve function, inflammation markers, heart failure hospitalizations, heart attacks, strokes, and major cardiac events. How It Works No experimental treatments-it's a registry collecting routine clinical data via a secure electronic system. Follow-up happens at your doctor's discretion, ideally at 3 and 12 months, then yearly (often by phone for stable cases). The study aims to enroll 500+ patients.

Participants needed: 500
Trial details
Age: 18+Biological sex: AllType: ObservationalSponsor: Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo di PaviaUpdated: May 19, 2026Locations: 1Duration: 5 Years
Eligibility criteria

Age > 18 years. [+1]

Failure to sign the informed consent.

Status: Recruiting

SysteMic vAsculitis pRognosis and ouTcome

This will be a pragmatic programme of research, consecutively recruiting all-comers who have been referred to secondary care for assessment of suspected Systemic Vasculitis (SV) into a longitudinal inception cohort. For patients with a pre-existing diagnosis, data on the disease onset will be collected retrospectively. All patients followed prospectively from the time of inclusion into the study will be followed at intervals corresponding to the recommended standard of care. We will invite participants to consent to the whole programme of research in order to allow their samples, as well as their data, to be used for in multiple related projects that have the same common aim. In this long-term inception cohort we will collect data on clinical features, prognostic factors and outcomes of patients diagnosed with a SV over the course of 10 years. We will examine the role of clinical features, imaging and biomarkers in the characterisation of the disease with a particular focus on risk stratification. This will be closely integrated with the other objectives of the study: analysing clinical features, imaging characteristics, outcomes, rates and predictors of relapses and remission, in order to obtain a prognostic stratification of the patients and to capture a cohort of patients at high risk of relapse and poor outcome who could inform on the potential use of more intensive treatment strategies to be assessed in future studies. The SMART programme will be guided by three main overarching themes: 1. "Theme 1": The identification of risk factors associated with poor outcome, relapse and failure to achieve remission 2. "Theme 2": The assessment of different tools to assess risk factors (imaging, biomarkers, clinical features) 3. "Theme 3": The analysis of cohorts of SV patients in observational studies The overarching aims of the study will be overlapping throughout the different investigations outlined in the following paragraphs analyzing: outcomes (including treatment-derived damage), monitoring and relapse, and remission in SV. We aim to follow patients up over a total of 10 years, in order to provide the richest and most complete set of data that has ever been collected for this patient group.

Participants needed: 300
Trial details
Age: 18+Biological sex: AllType: ObservationalSponsor: Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo di PaviaUpdated: May 14, 2026Locations: 1Duration: 10 Years
Eligibility criteria

Willing and able to give informed consent [+1]

Inability to give informed consent

Status: Recruiting

Rheumatoid Arthritis Remission Screening and Prospective Surveillance

HARMONICS is a prospective registry embedded in the routine clinical practice of the Early Arthritis Clinic and the Prospective Remission Clinic at Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, with an associated research biorepository of voluntarily donated biological samples. It is designed to collect and generate long-term longitudinal data from patients with early-treated rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who have achieved stable clinical remission with conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs) and undergo treatment tapering or discontinuation according to local care pathways, following shared decision-making between the patient and the treating rheumatologist. Following enrollment in stable clinical remission, patients are monitored as part of standard of care at regular intervals using clinical, ultrasound, and radiographic assessments to evaluate disease activity and outcomes. Treatment modifications, including tapering, discontinuation, and re-treatment, are recorded longitudinally. Participants are followed in the registry from enrollment for up to 60 months, unless a disease flare occurs earlier. Patients experiencing a disease flare within the initial 60-month follow-up period undergo an additional 12 months of follow-up after flare. The registry aims to provide a comprehensive longitudinal framework of multimodal data to advance the clinical and pathophysiological understanding of remission phenotypes and natural disease trajectories, with the ultimate goals of: * optimizing risk stratification and therapeutic decision-making in patients with RA in remission; and * identifying and exploring novel targets for potential transformative therapies.

Participants needed: 200
Trial details
Age: 18+Biological sex: AllType: ObservationalSponsor: Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo di PaviaUpdated: May 7, 2026Locations: 1Duration: 60 Months
Eligibility criteria

Age ≥18 years [+7]

Extra-articular manifestations of RA [+5]

Status: Recruiting

One Gene, Two Diseases: the Pathologic Role of IGLV1-44 in AL Amyloidosis and POEMS

By detailed sequence analysis and subsequent biophysical characterization of prototypic light chains, this project aims to identify sequence fingerprints in IGLV1-44 light chains leading to AL amyloidosis and POEMS syndrome. This understanding might help improve the risk stratification and early diagnosis of patients overexpressing pathologic IGLV1-44 LCs. Moreover, the development of nanobodies efficient in recognizing and stabilizing IGLV1-44 light chains which exert direct toxicity in cardiac AL amyloidosis and POEMS syndrome might form the basis for future development of therapeutic agents capable of counteracting IGLV1-44 light chain proteotoxicity.

Participants needed: 100
Trial details
Age: 18-99Biological sex: AllType: ObservationalSponsor: Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo di PaviaUpdated: May 6, 2026Locations: 1
Eligibility criteria

Biopsy-proven diagnosis of systemic AL amyloidosis, POEMS syndrome or multiple m... [+3]

Undefined monoclonal gammopathy or non-AL amyloidosis [+3]

Status: Recruiting

Prevalence, Pathogenesis, and Prognosis of Pulmonary Hypertension in Dialysis Patients

This prospective multicenter longitudinal study aims to investigate the prevalence, pathogenesis, and prognosis of pulmonary hypertension in patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing chronic hemodialysis. The research seeks to identify specific clinical factors and biomarkers like angiopoietin-2 that contribute to the development of this condition, while evaluating the prognostic value of right ventricular function measured via TAPSE. Participants undergo a standardized screening echocardiogram the day after their intermediate dialysis session to determine the probability of pulmonary hypertension. Those identified as high-risk receive further diagnostic confirmation through right heart catheterization, respiratory function tests, and lung scans to clarify the underlying etiology. The protocol also evaluates the hemodynamic impact of high-flow arteriovenous fistulas and volume overload on pulmonary pressures. Clinical follow-up is conducted at baseline and subsequently at 6, 12, and 24 months to monitor patient outcomes and standardize therapeutic management according to established European guidelines.

Participants needed: 70
Trial details
Age: 18-75Biological sex: AllType: ObservationalSponsor: Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo di PaviaUpdated: May 4, 2026Locations: 1
Eligibility criteria

Patients aged between 18 and 75 years [+3]

WHO functional class IV [+2]

Status: Recruiting

Treosulfan Therapeutic Drug Monitoring in Pediatric Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients

One of the major challenges to improve the outcome of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the reduction of toxicity and non-relapse mortality caused by the pre-transplant conditioning regimen, while maintaining efficacy. Treosulfan (TREO) (L-treitol-1,4-bis-methanesulfonate) is a busulfan analogue with a distinct site of alkylation that results in a more favourable toxicity profile in comparison with busulfan and total body irradiation. TREO is the prodrug of L-epoxybutane, a water-soluble bifunctional alkylating agent with remarkable myeloablative and immunosuppressive properties. The use of TREO, in combination with other chemotherapy agents, as part of the conditioning regimen for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in children has progressively increased during the last decade for both malignant and non-malignant disorders. Data on TREO pharmacokinetics in the pediatric population are still scarce. To date, only a few studies, including small numbers of pediatric patients, have investigated the PK profile of TREO. These studies reported high variability of TREO pharmacokinetics, and the relationship between TREO exposure, toxicity and clinical outcome is still unresolved. Therefore, therapeutic drug monitoring with a personalized approach may be an important tool to optimize outcomes in the pediatric population. The aim of the investigators' study is to characterize TREO PK/PD profiles in children undergoing HSCT and to evaluate the relationship between TREO exposure and early toxicity and clinical outcome.

Participants needed: 70
Trial details
Age: Up to 18Biological sex: AllType: ObservationalSponsor: Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo di PaviaUpdated: Apr 24, 2026Locations: 10
Eligibility criteria

Age range 0 - 18 years. [+6]

Absence of written informed consent signed by the parents or guardians. [+6]

Status: Recruiting

Coping and Attachment in Pediatric Oncohematology

Cancer can be a traumatic and particularly salient experience in a person's history. The ways in which the pediatric patient copes with it depend on the interaction of several factors present in his or her life context, primarily the relationship that is established between parent and child. Despite the paucity of studies in the literature in this regard, it would seem that parental coping is predictive of child coping. Coping strategies represent the ways in which people try to manage traumatic events or stressful everyday situations. Currently, the literature identifies two main categories of coping strategies: emotion-oriented and problem-oriented strategies. The former are aimed on reducing stress-induced unpleasant emotions (e.g., problem avoidance, positive reappraisal, etc.); the latter, on the other hand, focus on stress dissolution/alteration (e.g., problem identification and resolution, stress cause research). Some studies, previously conducted in oncology, show that emotion-focused coping strategies are associated with better adaptation immediately after diagnosis, but their positive influence tends to weaken over time; problem-focused coping strategies are more correlated with poor adaptation immediately after diagnosis, but in the later stages of treatment. The clinical experience with patients in the Pediatric Oncohematology Department brings out the need to develop and structure a psychological assessment model, in order to ensure a more effective care of the family units followed. The research aims, through a single administration of psychological tests, to investigate the role of attachment and some variables (age, gender, stage of treatment, stage of the disease, social support, resilience, ability to adapt to environmental stimuli, emotional state of of caregivers) on the coping strategies implemented by the parents of patients and the patients themselves, in order to differentiate the types of psychological intervention, to try to reduce psychological distress and increase levels of mental well-being.

Participants needed: 60
Trial details
Age: 8-17Biological sex: AllType: ObservationalSponsor: Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo di PaviaUpdated: Apr 24, 2026Locations: 3
Eligibility criteria

parents of both sexes [+3]

age between 8 and 17 years old (included), undergoing treatment at the Pediatric... [+2]

Status: Recruiting

Evaluation of Genetic-molecular Causes of Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: From Patients to Families

The aims are to define the exact prevalence of hereditary heart diseases in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients taking also into account gender, patient and OHCA characteristics, provincial settings and environmental pollution; to stratify the individualized arrhythmic risk of proband's family members to prevent further sudden cardiac deaths; to refine the classification of the variants of uncertain significance (VUS) on genes which can have the capability to drive to molecular alterations leading to arrhythmogenic hereditary heart diseases. A blood sample will be obtained during resuscitation from all the patients aged ≤50 years suffering an OHCA in Lombardy Region and then analysed for genetic variants possibly causative of cardiac diseases. Genetic data will be merged with patient, OHCA and post-resuscitation data thanks to the connection with LombardiaCARe, whilst pollution data will be retrieved from ARPA Lombardia for free. A genetic counselling and clinical-instrumental evaluation of the proband's first-degree family members will be performed if a pathogenic/likely pathogenic variant or a VUS will be disclosed during the genetic analysis.

Participants needed: 1,725
Trial details
Age: 18-50Biological sex: AllType: ObservationalSponsor: Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo di PaviaUpdated: Apr 27, 2026Locations: 1
Eligibility criteria

All the patients suffering from OHCA of medical etiology in Lombardy Region ≤50...

Patients under 18 years old [+1]

Status: Recruiting

Promoting Diagnosis and Management of AL in Italy (ProDigALIty)

The investigators plan to establish a dedicated network of Italian Hematologic Departments interconnected with the Amyloidosis Research and Treatment Center in Pavia to: 1. Implement a biomarker-based screening strategy to promote early diagnosis of AL amyloidosis among at-risk patients, including patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, MGUS, and altered free light chain ratio (aFLCR), and patients with smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM) 2. Expedite and facilitate patients' referral and their enrollment in ongoing pre-clinical/clinical studies, also to reflect a broader spectrum of the real-world population of patients with AL amyloidosis in Italy; 3. Investigate the clinical utility of novel diagnostic technologies, including light chain sequencing and N-glycosylation analysis

Participants needed: 760
Trial details
Age: 18-99Biological sex: AllType: ObservationalSponsor: Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo di PaviaUpdated: Apr 16, 2026Locations: 4Duration: 2 Years
Eligibility criteria

diagnosis of MGUS with altered FLCR or SMM; [+4]

Diagnosis of symptomatic monoclonal gammopathies; [+8]

Status: Recruiting

A EUropean REgistry and Sample Sharing networK to Promote the Diagnosis and Management of Light Chain Amyloidosis (EUREKA)

A prospective patients' registry collecting all new cases of AL amyloidosis evaluated at referral Centers from across Europe and a sample sharing network will be created to study mechanisms of the disease through the use of advanced molecular technologies and big data analysis tools.

Participants needed: 400
Trial details
Age: 18-99Biological sex: AllType: ObservationalSponsor: Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo di PaviaUpdated: Apr 16, 2026Locations: 6
Eligibility criteria

diagnosis of systemic AL amyloidosis; [+4]

non-AL amyloidosis; [+1]

Status: Recruiting

A Registry of AL Amyloidosis (ReAL)

The purpose of this protocol is to generate a large registry of patients with AL amyloidosis.

Participants needed: 5,000
Trial details
Age: 18-99Biological sex: AllType: ObservationalSponsor: Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo di PaviaUpdated: Apr 16, 2026Locations: 1Duration: 5 Years
Eligibility criteria

diagnosis of systemic AL amyloidosis; [+4]

non-AL amyloidosis; [+1]

Status: Recruiting

RADIOLOGICAL AND CLINICAL EVALUATION OF RENAL EMBOLIZATION USING EVOH IN DIALYSIS PATIENTS WITH AUTOSOMAL DOMINANT POLYCYSTIC KIDNEY DISEASE: A PROSPECTIVE LONGITUDINAL OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is an inherited cystic disorder characterised by the progressive degeneration of the renal parenchyma into cystic formations, with involvement of other organs to varying degrees and incidence (liver, pancreas and brain). This condition is the most common inherited kidney disorder; in fact, it affects 1 in 400-1,000 births and has a prevalence of 5% among dialysis patients and an incidence of 10% among patients with end-stage renal failure in Europe. It is caused by mutations in the PKD1 or PKD2 genes, which are involved in the production of an abnormal protein that leads to tubular dysplasia. Cystic degeneration leads to progressive loss of renal function, with the development of hypertension, haematuria and concomitant enlargement of the renal parenchyma. The progression of the disease is precisely marked by an increase in renal volume. The increase in the organ's overall volume is secondary to the development and enlargement of cysts, whilst the proportion of functioning renal parenchyma progressively decreases. For these reasons, the increase in renal volume over time is a powerful predictor of the risk of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). In addition to its prognostic significance, the enlargement of the kidneys is itself a cause of complications. Indeed, the space occupied within the abdomen can become so extensive as to cause abdominal distension, malaise, pain, loss of appetite, constipation, nausea and vomiting, reduced diaphragmatic movement, breathing difficulties and lower back pain. Overall, patients' quality of life can be severely compromised. It is not uncommon for the kidneys of patients with ADPKD to occupy the pelvic cavity, the preferred site for kidney transplant placement, which represents the optimal treatment option for the disease once ESRD has been reached. This situation, which is not uncommon, represents a temporary contraindication to kidney transplantation: delaying the procedure also has repercussions on the patient's survival. The contraindication to transplantation due to anatomical unavailability has so far necessitated surgical nephrectomy (so-called 'debridement nephrectomy') as the sole preventive or pre-transplant therapeutic option. Nephrectomy carries the risks inherent in surgery, including haemorrhage, herniation of the abdominal wall, vascular complications of varying severity-such as arteriovenous fistulas, thrombosis, and vascular wall injury-and the risk of infection. Surgical nephrectomy also has a negative impact on the subsequent possibility of using the peritoneal membrane for dialysis (peritoneal dialysis) and, should blood transfusions be required to correct intraoperative blood loss, contributes to increasing the likelihood of the patient becoming immunised, with the associated risks of reduced availability of compatible donors (so-called hyperimmune patients), and, in any case, a higher risk of acute and chronic rejection, conditions that negatively impact transplant survival. Given the high risks associated with nephrectomy, a non-invasive alternative has been proposed: reduction of renal volume via transcatheter arterial embolisation. Renal embolisation can be performed in the Interventional Radiology department via the controlled occlusion of renal vessels using a liquid embolisation agent composed of ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH). The literature reports the assessment of embolised patients using CT without contrast medium, but recent technological innovations allow for accurate and precise volumetric assessment of organs using MRI without contrast medium, with reduced inter-operator variability and without the need to subject the patient to ionising radiation during follow-up.

Participants needed: 30
Trial details
Age: 18-75Biological sex: AllType: ObservationalSponsor: Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo di PaviaUpdated: Apr 17, 2026Locations: 1
Eligibility criteria

aged over 18 and under 75 [+2]

Status: Recruiting

Comprehensive Characterization of Immune Response Induced by Adjuvanted Glycoprotein E (gE)-Based Recombinant VAccine Zoster in Vulnerable Population Receiving ImmunOmodulaNt Therapies

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is one of the eight herpesviruses that infect humans by manifesting as varicella. After primary infection VZV remains latent for life. In 30% of individuals the virus reactivates causing a secondary infection, herpes zoster (HZ). The most common complication of HZ is post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) and, in severe cases, disseminated infection and death. The incidence of HZ increases as cell-mediated immunity (CMI) declines due to advanced age or the administration of immunomodulatory or immunosuppressive therapies. With the approval of the recombinant adjuvanted glycoprotein E (gE) vaccine (RZV; Shingrix™, GSK) also in immunocompromised individuals (IC) HZ is now considered a vaccine preventable disease. The development of novel biologic therapies has revolutionized the treatment of inflammatory skin conditions improving clinical responses in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis patients. Although the overall safety records of biologic therapies are outstanding, there is evidence of an increased risk of contracting viral infections by nature of their inherent immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive effects. Primary myelofibrosis (MF) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm. The development and approval of ruxolitinib, the first JAK1/2 inhibitor indicated to treat MF, has improved patient outcomes and overall survival. However, JAK inhibitors also suppressed the immune system impairing Natural Killer cell function and virus-specific T cell response. These may potentially result in increased infections (and in particular of VZV reactivation). Given the increased risk of HZ associated with immunomodulant therapy, data on the immunogenicity and safety of RZV in IC populations are urgently needed.

Participants needed: 150
Trial details
Age: 18-100Biological sex: AllType: ObservationalSponsor: Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo di PaviaUpdated: Apr 16, 2026Locations: 1
Eligibility criteria

• Patients over 18 years of age; [+7]

• At the end of the observation period; [+2]

Status: Recruiting

A Comprehensive Register Of Lymphoproliferative Disorders (ReLy)

The primary objective of this study is to assess the 10-year overall survival (OS) of patients with different lymphoproliferative disorders. Secondary objectives include evaluating the comorbidities and fitness of patients and their impact on treatment choices and outcomes. Additionally, the study will examine the effectiveness of various therapeutic regimens, with a particular focus on new treatments, such as chemo-free protocols, targeted drugs, and cell therapies, in order to determine the best treatment sequence for refractory and relapsed cases. The research will also investigate how clinical and biological factors influence disease progression or relapse. Another aim is to explore potential correlations between genotype, clinical phenotype, and outcomes, both at diagnosis and during various disease stages. The study will also assess the incidence of tumor lysis syndrome and other adverse events during treatment, considering how these factors might affect treatment discontinuations or dose reductions. Another objective is to evaluate the outcomes of patients who are managed with a "watch and wait" approach. Long-term toxicities and the occurrence of secondary malignancies will also be studied, alongside the analysis of healthcare costs and the resources used in patient management.

Participants needed: 9,000
Trial details
Age: 18+Biological sex: AllType: ObservationalSponsor: Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo di PaviaUpdated: Apr 9, 2026Locations: 1Duration: 10 Years
Eligibility criteria

Patients ≥ 18 years diagnosed with and/or treated for lymphoproliferative disord... [+2]

Patients who are unable to understand informed consent document

Status: Recruiting

Evaluation of Oxidative Stress: Comparison Between Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus and Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults

After obtaining informed consent, the investigators will recruit 75 patients with T1DM and 75 with LADA with an age ≥ 18 years and ≤ 75 years, of both sexes. All patients will be selected among outpatients attending the Center of Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases of First Department of Internal Medicine, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Foundation. The study design will include one single visit where patients' medical history and blood samples will be collected. For incident cases, a follow-up visit at 3 months from the start of treatment will be scheduled to assess whether a decrease in HbA1c corresponds to a decrease in the biomarkers. For a comprehensive oxidative balance evaluation, the d-ROMs test will be carried out to evaluate the pro-oxidant status linked to one of the parameters related to the antioxidant potential (BAP test, OXY-Adsorbent test, -SHp test and anti-ROMs test). Parameters will be evaluated using Free Radical Elective Evaluator (FREE) Duo by Diacron International s.r.l. (Grosseto, ITALY), an integrated analytical system that permits any type of chemical-clinical analysis based on the principle of photometry. The investigators will also evaluate high sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), malondialdehyde (MDA). To evaluate if there is an association between a worse stage of the diseases and some oxidative stress markers, the investigators will also evaluate glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) fasting plasma glucose (FPG), post-prandial glucose (PPG). All plasmatic parameters will be determined after a 12-h overnight fast, with the exception of PPG, determined 2 hours after a standardized meal. Venous blood samples will be taken for all patients between 8 A.M. and 9 A.M. The investigators will use plasma obtained by addition of Na2-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), 1 mg/ml, and centrifuged at 3000 g for 15 minutes at 4°C. Immediately after centrifugation, the plasma samples will be frozen and stored at -80 °C for no more than 3 months. All measurements will be analyzed by the Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, General Medicine 1, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Foundation with proven experience in the dosage of these markers.

Participants needed: 75
Trial details
Age: 18-75Biological sex: AllType: ObservationalSponsor: Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo di PaviaUpdated: Apr 2, 2026Locations: 1
Eligibility criteria

Not listed

Status: Recruiting

Neonatal Enterovirus Infections in Italy: Virological Characterization, Genomic and Clinical-epidemiological Insights on Echovirus 11

The Enterovirus genus, belonging to the Picornaviridae family, consists of positively polarized single-stranded RNA viruses classified into the species Enterovirus (EV, comprising Coxsackievirus, Echovirus and Poliovirus) A-J and Rhinovirus (RV) A-C, of which more than 200 different genotypes have been described. Enteroviruses have a global spread and are a common cause of febrile, gastroenteric and exanthematous diseases, usually self-limiting, which are widespread in infants and pediatric populations. However, they can occasionally cause serious diseases, including meningoencephalitis, myelitis, paralysis, myocarditis, sepsis, severe respiratory syndromes, and acute hepatitis. They can be transmitted by respiratory route, with most cases in temperate regions occurring during summer and early autumn. Enteroviruses are characterized by a rapid evolution determined by the high mutation rate (due to the presence of an RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase that lacks proofreading activity) and the high probability of undergoing recombination events. The latter, in particular inter-typical recombination, plays a crucial role in the evolutionary process of Enteroviruses and has been recognized as a major cause of the emergence of strains with higher pathogenicity and/or epidemic potential, although the associated genetic determinants are not known to date. Between July 2022 and April 2023, nine cases of neonatal Echovirus 11 (E-11) infection with severe liver failure and neurological and myocardial involvement were reported in France; seven of these cases resulted in fatal outcomes. Following these reports, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued an alert that quickly led to the identification of further cases in Italy, Spain, Croatia and the United Kingdom. As EV infections are not subject to systematic surveillance, there is a lack of data on the actual burden of disease associated with these infections. Thus, EV infections are underestimated and, even more so, data on their typing are scarce - if not absent -, which involve second-level analyses that are generally not carried out routinely in clinical microbiological diagnostic laboratories, are rarely available and are not systematically collected, not even at European level. A condition that therefore makes it impossible to estimate either the impact of EV infections in general, and of E-11 in particular, or the risk factors related to the most serious cases and the most significant transmission routes. Moreover, the characteristics of the immunological and inflammatory response to infection remain to be defined. These elements would allow, if available, the formulation of a specific case definition to ensure rapid laboratory confirmation and recognition of the disease.To strengthen knowledge of the spread and impact of enterovirus infections in newborns, with a focus on E-11, by carrying out the following activities, within the scope of the project's proposed objectives: design and pilot implementation (proof of concept) of epidemiological and genomic surveillance systems with potential national application; molecular characterization and evaluation of viral pathogenic features; search for possible immunological markers and host risk factors associated with severe EV disease, including E-11. Specific objectives 1. To implement and validate a protocol for screening activities in neonatal units and neonatal intensive care units aimed at checking for the presence of infections caused by EV and identifying severe forms of infection, with particular attention to E-11. 2. Characterize EV strains, identified within the activities carried out by specific objectives 1, using next-generation sequencing (NGS) approaches to obtain the whole genome sequence and identify possible recombinant forms. Carry out phylogenetic analysis of the obtained sequences compared with those deposited in the main international databases, to define genomes that can be traced back to variant strains or with specific mutations in the genome.

Participants needed: 1,600
Trial details
Age: 1-28Biological sex: AllType: ObservationalSponsor: Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo di PaviaUpdated: Mar 27, 2026Locations: 1
Eligibility criteria

Not listed

Status: Recruiting

The Italian Transthyretin Amyloidosis Web-Network

The study aims, by generating a large registry of patients with ATTR amyloidosis, including data at diagnosis and during follow up, to describe the natural history of ATTR amyloidosis in a real-world setting and to define and validate prognostic models, response criteria applicable at any point of the disease. The registry will also be used for data sharing and to allow the possibility of a close collaboration amongst the amyloidosis experts of the ARTC and all the physicians around the Country involved in the diagnosis and management of systemic amyloidosis. Thanks to the online registry, the diagnostic facility of the ARTC will be made available to requesting physicians.

Participants needed: 1,000
Trial details
Age: 18-99Biological sex: AllType: ObservationalSponsor: Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo di PaviaUpdated: Mar 27, 2026Locations: 30Duration: 5 Years
Eligibility criteria

Suspected diagnosis of systemic and localized amyloidosis; [+3]