Foundation Policlinico San Matteo IRCCS

Healthcare provider: Fondazione Policlinico San Matteo is a public healthcare and research institution of national relevance (IRCCS, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico) acting in 35 medical and surgical disciplines. It includes 77 units structured in nine departments, reaching a mean of 39.135 admissions and 5.805.616 outpatient/day hospital procedures per year in 2013-2015. As a public IRCCS it is under the control of Regione Lombardia and surveillance of the Italian Ministry of Health. The designation of IRCCS is recognized by the Ministry of Health on the basis of its highly specialized healthcare interventions and high quality biomedical research. The healthcare provider has received accreditation as Referral Centre for Rare Diseases by Regione Lombardia for 118 out of 231 rare disorders recognized by the Italian Ministry of Health. Accreditation was obtained in 2001 and was confirmed over time in agreement with updated regional requirements.

Centre for rare and complex heart diseases: The Centre for Inherited Cardiovascular Diseases (CMGCV) is a highly specialized unit of the University Hospital Foundation IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy. The Centre integrates three specialties: genetics, cardiology and pathologic anatomy and specializes in the care of patients affected by genetic cardiovascular disorders or at risk of developing or transmitting them. Its care extends to more than 5.000 families. Among the most treated inherited conditions there are: dilated, hypertrophic, restrictive, arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathies, and left ventricular non-compaction, besides systemic diseases with possible heart involvement. Our care extends not only to the single patient, but also to family members both affected and healthy-carriers of the disease-causing gene defect. Therefore, the Centre aims at providing patients and their families with the most comprehensive and up-to-date diagnostic work-up and therapeutic strategies, from clinical suspect, clinical and genetic diagnosis to treatment, monitoring and informative/educational support.

Prof. Dr. Eloisa Arbustini is a cardiologist, pathologist and the representative member of Foundation Policlinico San Matteo IRCCS in ERN GUARD-HEART.