title: Transition of gastroenterological patients from paediatric to adult care: A position statement by the Italian Societies of Gastroenterology.
abstract: In 2013, four Italian Gastroenterological Societies (the Italian Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, the Italian Society of Hospital Gastroenterologists and Endoscopists, the Italian Society of Endoscopy, and the Italian Society of Gastroenterology) formed a joint panel of experts with the aim of preparing an official statement on transition medicine in Gastroenterology. The transition of adolescents from paediatric to adult care is a crucial moment in managing chronic diseases such as celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, liver disease and liver transplantation. Improved medical treatment and availability of new drugs and surgical techniques have improved the prognosis of many paediatric disorders, prolonging survival, thus making the transition to adulthood possible and necessary. An inappropriate transition or the incomplete transmission of data from the paediatrician to the adult Gastroenterologist can dramatically decrease compliance to treatment and prognosis of a young patient, particularly in the case of severe disorders. For these reasons, the Italian gastroenterological societies decided to develop an official shared transition protocol. The resulting document discusses the factors influencing the transition process and highlights the main points to accomplish to optimize compliance and prognosis of gastroenterological patients during the difficult transition from childhood to adolescence and adulthood.
authors.affiliation: Center for Prevention and Diagnosis of Celiac Disease, Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Unit, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Fodanzione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico and Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Elli
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Unit, University Hospital "Santa Maria della Misericordia", Udine, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maieron
authors.affiliation: Pediatrics, Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martelossi
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Graziella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guariso
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Department, Maggiore Hospital Crema, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Buscarini
authors.affiliation: Center for Prevention and Diagnosis of Celiac Disease, Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Unit, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Fodanzione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico and Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Conte
authors.affiliation: Digestive Endoscopy, "Sapienza" University, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: di Giulio
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Medical Science, Section of Pediatrics, University of Naples "Federico II", Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Staiano
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Section of Gastroenterology, Meyer Children's Hospital, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Jacopo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Barp
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Section, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabrio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bassotti
authors.affiliation: Endoscopy and Gastroenterology Unit, A. Maresca Hospital, Torre del Greco, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Antonia
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bianco
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy Unit, "Cattinara" Hospital, Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Buri
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Ospedale Orlandi, Bussolengo, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carrara
authors.affiliation: Hepatology, Gastroenterology and Nutrition Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Benedetta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ghidini
authors.affiliation: Hepatology, Gastroenterology and Nutrition Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Olivia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Giannini
authors.affiliation: Hepatology, Gastroenterology and Nutrition Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Knafelz
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Medical Science, Section of Pediatrics, University of Naples "Federico II", Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Erasmo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Miele
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit, University Hospital "Policlinico Paolo Giaccone", Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Peralta
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Cardarelli Hospital, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Riccio
authors.affiliation: Center for Prevention and Diagnosis of Celiac Disease, Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Unit, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Fodanzione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico and Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tomba
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Unit, University Hospital "Santa Maria della Misericordia", Udine, Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zilli
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Department, Maggiore Hospital Crema, Italy. Electronic address: tizguadagnini@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Guadagnini
mesh_terms: D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D005762:Gastroenterology; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D010372:Pediatrics; D010820:Physicians; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012955:Societies, Medical; D060305:Transition to Adult Care / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*
keywords: Celiac disease; Gastroenterology; Hepatology; Inflammatory bowel disease; Transition medicine