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Article History

Received: 2 August 2019

Accepted: 13 April 2020

First Online: 25 April 2020

Compliance with ethical standards

:

: Prof Patti has received honoraria for speaking activities by Bayer Schering, Biogen Idec, Merck Serono, Novartis, and Sanofi Aventis; he also served as advisory board member the following companies: Bayer Schering, Biogen Idec, Merck Serono, and Novartis; he was also funded by Pfeizer and FISM for epidemiological studies; finally, he received grant for congress participation from Bayer Schering, Biogen Idec, Merck Serono, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi Aventis, and TEVA. Dr. Chisari CG received grant for congress participation from Bayer Schering, Biogen Idec, Merck Serono, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi Aventis, and TEVA. Dr. Solaro received honoraria from Biogen, Genzyme, Novartis, Merck Serono, Almirall, Roche, and TEVA. Dr. Bruno Bossio R received grant for advisory board activities from Almirall. Dr. Maniscalco GT received speaking and advisory honoraria from Biogen, Novartis, and TEVA. Dr. Matta M received honoraria for serving in the scientific advisory boards of Almirall, Novartis, Biogen, and Genzyme. Prof. Zappia M has received compensation for consulting services from Boehringer-Ingelheim, Lundbeck, Union Chimique Belge, and scientific grants from AIFA - Agenzia Italiana del Farmaco, Novartis, Lundbeck.Dr. Benedetti MD, Dr. Berra E, Dr. Bianco A, Dr. Buttari, Dr. Castelli L, Dr. Cavalla P, Dr. Cerqua R, Dr. Costantino GF, Dr. Gasperini C, Dr. Guareschi, Dr. Ippolito D, Dr. Lanzillo R, Dr. Paolicelli D, Dr. Petrucci L, Dr. Pontecorvo S, Dr. Righini I, Dr. Russo M, Dr. Saccà F, Dr. Salamone G, Dr. Signoriello E, Dr. Spinicci G, Dr. Spitaleri D, Dr. Tavazzi E, Dr. Trotta M, and Dr. Zaffaroni M declared that they have no conflict of interest.

: The study was approved by the Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele (Catania, Italy) Ethics Committee (no. 37/2015/PO) and by the Ethics Committee of the other participating centers.