From January 2003 to November 2017, Clodoveo Ferri was Professor of Rheumatology, Chief of the Chair of Rheumatology and director of the Postgraduate School of Rheumatology at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia in Modena, Italy. Following his retirement, he continued his activity as a research collaborator at the same University[1].
Ferri is a member of the SIR (Italian Society of Rheumatology)[8] and GISC (Italian Group for the Study of Cryoglobulinemias), ALCRI (Italian Association for the Fight against Cryoglobulinemias)[9] and an international fellow of the American College of Rheumatology.[10]
Scientific activity
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Ferri's work includes clinical and laboratory investigations of different autoimmune and neoplastic diseases; in particular, he investigated the pathogenetic role of some viruses in mixed cryoglobulinemia (cryoglobulinemic vasculitis) and systemic sclerosis (scleroderma).[3] In 1991, soon after the discovery of the hepatitis C virus (HCV), he demonstrated the presence of serum viral genome (HCV-RNA) in a large series of mixed cryoglobulinemia patients.[4][11] This finding suggested a causative role of HCV in other virus-related extrahepatic manifestations, including autoimmune and lymphoproliferative disorders. The association of HCV with B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was first demonstrated in 1994.[4][12][13] On the basis of these studies, confirmed and expanded by other authors worldwide, Clodoveo Ferri suggested the term "HCV syndrome", which refers to particular autoimmune-neoplastic disease complex triggered by HCV infections in predisposed individuals.[4][14]
The association of HCV with different diseases represents a good model of study of other virus-driven autoimmune, lymphoproliferative, and neoplastic disorders.[4][15][16] The history of this multistep research may be useful for many aspects: a. it may have a stimulating and educational value, especially for student, young researchers, and clinicians, and b. it underlines the relevance to deal with the complexity frequently present in the clinical practice, which requires a multidisciplinary approach.[4]
1999: possible role of parvovirus B19 and CMV in systemic sclerosis (scleroderma).[5][23] In this respect, significantly higher prevalence of parvovirus B19 infection was originally demonstrated in both bone marrow and skin of scleroderma patients compared to controls.[5][14]
2. Serological studies and therapeutic trials on different rheumatic disorders (rheumatoid arthritis, SLE, systemic sclerosis, mixed cryoglobulinemia).[24]
3. Etiopathogenesis, clinical features, survival, and treatment of mixed cryoglobulinemia syndrome (cryoglobulinemic vasculitis).[4][24]
4. Etiopathogenesis and clinical follow-up of Raynaud's phenomenon and systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) including classification, visceral involvement (heart, lung), survival, and treatment.[24] Since 2015 Ferri is the coordinator of the Italian Systemic Sclerosis Registry (SIR-SPRING).[25]
5. Role of plasmapheretic and dietetic treatments in some rheumatic disorders (cryoglobulinemic vasculitis,[26] SLE, scleroderma, IgA nephropathy).[27]
6. Impact of COVID19 on autoimmune systemic diseases.[24][28][29] Since 2020 Ferri is the coordinator of the COVID-19 & ASD Italian Study Group.[30]
^ abcdefghijklmnFerri, Clodoveo (2025-01-11). Overview of the Research Line: from Mixed Cryoglobulinemia (Cryoglobulinemic Vasculitis) to HCV infection, Autoimmunity, and Oncogenesis.
^ abcdeFerri, Clodoveo (2025-01-11). Studies on the Potential Role of Environmental Infectious and Toxic Factors in the Etiopathogenesis of Systemic Sclerosis.
^ ab"Hepatitis C virus: A linkage between hematology and hepatology established through major contributions by Italian research". Haematologica. 81 (3): 193–194. January 1996. PMID 8767522.
^ abFerri, C.; Greco, F.; Longombardo, G.; Palla, P.; Moretti, A.; Marzo, E.; Mazzoni, A.; Pasero, G.; Bombardieri, S.; Highfield, P. (1991). "Association between hepatitis C virus and mixed cryoglobulinemia". Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology. 9 (6): 621–624. ISSN 0392-856X. PMID 1662567.
^ abFerri, C. (1994). "Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: possible role of hepatitis C virus infection". JAMA. 272 (5): 355–356. doi:10.1001/jama.1994.03520050033023. PMID 8028163.
^Ferri, C. (1994). "Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Patients with non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma". British Journal of Haematology. 88 (2): 392–394. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2141.1994.tb05036.x. PMID 7803287. S2CID 31923239.
^ abCurrent treatment of hepatitis C-associated rheumatic diseases
^ abFerri, C.; Antonelli, A.; Mascia, M. T.; Sebastiani, M.; Fallahi, P.; Ferrari, D.; Pileri, S. A.; Zignego, A. L. (2007). "HCV-related autoimmune and neoplastic disorders: the HCV syndrome". Digestive and Liver Disease. 39 Suppl 1: S13–21. doi:10.1016/s1590-8658(07)80005-3. ISSN 1878-3562. PMID 17936215.
^ abFerri, Clodoveo; Sebastiani, Marco; Giuggioli, Dilia; Colaci, Michele; Fallahi, Poupak; Piluso, Alessia; Antonelli, Alessandro; Zignego, Anna Linda (2015-03-27). "Hepatitis C virus syndrome: A constellation of organ- and non-organ specific autoimmune disorders, B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and cancer". World Journal of Hepatology. 7 (3): 327–343. doi:10.4254/wjh.v7.i3.327. ISSN 1948-5182. PMC4381161. PMID 25848462.
^Ferri, C.; Cazzato, M.; Giuggioli, D.; Sebastiani, M.; Magro, C. (2002). "Systemic sclerosis following human cytomegalovirus infection". Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. 61 (10): 937–938. doi:10.1136/ard.61.10.937. ISSN 0003-4967. PMC1753909. PMID 12228168.
^Ferri, C. (November 1990). "Alpha-interferon in the treatment of mixed cryoglobulinemia patients. Proceedings International Cancer Update. Focus on interferon alfa-2b'". European Journal of Cancer. 27 (S4). Cannes: 81–82.
^Editorial (1996). "Hepatitis C Virus: A Linkage Between Hematology and Hepatology Established Through Major Contributions By Italian Research". Haematologica. 81 (3): 193–194. PMID 8767522. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
^"Letter" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-05-28. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
^Ferri, C.; Baicchi, U.; la Civita, L.; Greco, F.; Longombardo, G.; Mazzoni, A.; Careccia, G.; Bombardieri, S.; Pasero, G.; Zignego, A. L. (1993). "Hepatitis C virus-related autoimmunity in patients with porphyria cutanea tarda". European Journal of Clinical Investigation. 23 (12): 851–855. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2362.1993.tb00741.x. ISSN 0014-2972. PMID 7511537.
^Antonelli A, Ferri C, Fallahi P Thyroid cancer in patients with hepatitis C infection. JAMA 1999; 281(17):1588.
^Ferri C, et al: Parvovirus B19 infection of bone marrow in systemic sclerosis patients. Clin Exp Rheumatol 1999; 17(6):718-20.
^Ferri, C.; Pietrogrande, M.; Cecchetti, R.; Tavoni, A.; Cefalo, A.; Buzzetti, G.; Vitali, C.; Bombardieri, S. (1989). "Low-antigen-content diet in the treatment of patients with mixed cryoglobulinemia". The American Journal of Medicine. 87 (5): 519–524. doi:10.1016/s0002-9343(89)80607-2. ISSN 0002-9343. PMID 2816967.