Accreditation

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

Target Audience

This activity is intended for rheumatologists, rheumatology fellows, and other health care professionals who treat patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases.

Overview

The addition of the newer agents with novel mechanisms of action has expanded the armamentarium of biologic treatment options for the RA patient. With this expansion of therapeutic choices, several key clinical issues need to be addressed to ensure rational and clinically sound application of abatacept and rituximab in clinical practice including:

• Protocols and procedures for overcoming inadequate response to TNF inhibition in patients with moderate to severe RA
• Protocols and procedures for maintenance therapy of new biologics
• Short- and long-term safety issues and safety surveillance
• Protocols and procedures for managing side effects
• Improving physician-patient communication

Activity Design

The following activity uses an interactive, case-based format to identify, assess, and evaluate the available scientific research on and clinical experience with the use of rituximab and abatacept in patients with moderate to severe RA.

Objectives

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

1. Initiate therapy with new biologics after an inadequate response to TNF-inhibitor therapy in patients with moderate to severe RA.
2. Identify strategies for treating patients who do not respond to newly approved biologics.
3. Discuss issues related to initiation and maintenance therapy with newly approved biologics.
4. Address patients' questions and concerns about newly approved biologics.

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

Author

Roy Fleischmann, MD

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 members have indicated they may have a relationship which, in the context of their presentations, could be perceived as a potential conflict of interest: