Related
Information:

May 7-9, 2009
LIVE CME:
Biologic Therapies
in Special Populations - Infections, Malignancies, Cardiovascular Disease, and Other Comorbidities

ONLINE CME:
Neuro-
inflammatory Aspects in Rheumatology

ONLINE CME: Biologic Therapies
in Autoimmune Disease

ONLINE CME:
Use of Novel Biologics
in the
Treatment
of Moderate to Severe
Rheumatoid Arthritis

Accreditation

1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.
Read the full Accreditation Statement

Target Audience

This activity is intended to provide rheumatologists, immunologists, and other health care professionals who treat patients with autoimmune diseases with the latest data pertaining to B-cell–directed therapies.

Description

The effective management of RA and other rheumatic diseases has expanded to include not only the use of anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents but also the use of agents with other mechanisms of action. For example, B-cell–depleting therapies represent a new mode of action for the treatment of RA for patients with primary or secondary TNF-inhibitor failure. The important role of B cells in rheumatic disease states other than RA, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), vasculitis, and Sjögren's syndrome is also emerging. In this newsletter, leading rheumatologists provide updates on the expanding understanding of the role of B-cell–targeted therapies in the treatment of various rheumatic diseases.

You may read the articles in sequence, or in whichever order you prefer. But you may only claim CME credit once. A link is available at the end of each article to the beginning of the CME application process.

Upon completing the CME activity, the evaluation and registration forms, you will have an opportunity to print your CME certificate for your records.

Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, the participant will be able to:

1. Describe the new insights into the role of B cells in the pathogenesis of autoimmune rheumatic diseases.
2. Identify recent advances into the different mechanisms of immune modulation by various B-cell–directed therapies in treating autoimmune rheumatic diseases.
3. Evaluate the efficacy and safety data of currently available and emerging B-cell therapeutics for autoimmune rheumatic diseases.

Activity Director

Leonard H. Calabrese, DO
Professor of Medicine
Vice Chairman, Department of Rheumatic and Immunologic Diseases
RJ Fasenmyer Chair of Clinical Immunology
Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, Ohio

Planning Committee

Marc D. Cohen, MD
Professor of Medicine
Chairman, Division of
  Rheumatology
Mayo Clinic College of
  Medicine
Jacksonville, Florida

Jonathan Kay, MD
Associate Clinical
  Professor of Medicine
Harvard Medical School
Associate Physician
Division of Rheumatology,
  Allergy, and Immunology
Massachusetts General
  Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts

Gregg J. Silverman, MD
Director, Rheumatic
  Diseases Core Center
Professor of Medicine
Division of Rheumatology,
  Allergy, and Immunology
University of California San
  Diego School of Medicine
La Jolla, California

Faculty Disclosure

In accordance with the Standards for Commercial Support issued by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), The Cleveland Clinic Foundation Center for Continuing Education requires resolution of all faculty conflicts of interest to ensure CME activities are free of commercial bias.

The following faculty have indicated they have no relationship which, in the context of their presentation(s), could be perceived as a potential conflict of interest:

The Cleveland Clinic Foundation Center for Continuing Education acknowledges an educational grant for support of this activity from:

Genentech and Biogen Idec.