Current Strategies for the Diagnosis and Management of Spondyloarthropathies

Faculty

Needs Statement

This newsletter focuses on the clinical presentation and measurements of disease activity of the spondyloarthropathies and on the available treatments. It is essential that clinicians stay abreast of the advances in these areas for optimal outcomes in the management of the spondyloarthropathies. Topics to be discussed include diagnostic criteria, assessment instruments, and current data on the efficacy of biologics in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.

Target Audience

This activity is designed for rheumatologists and other healthcare professionals who manage the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other rheumatic diseases.

Objectives

After completing this activity, participants should be able to:

1. Explain the clinical presentation of the spondyloarthropathies (SpAs) and outcome measures of disease activity;
2. Describe the latest data on the benefits and limitations of biologics in the treatment of SpAs;
3. Implement diagnostic and assessment strategies for the management of SpAs.

Independent Clinical Reviewer: Mandana Hashefi, MD, FACR, Medical Faculty Associates, Division of Rheumatology, George Washington University, Washington, DC.

Estimated time to complete: 1 hour.

To be eligible for documentation of credit, participants must read all monograph content ,complete the 10-question post-test with a score of 70% or better, and complete the online evaluation form. Participants who successfully complete the post-test and evaluation form online may immediately print their documentation of credit.

Accreditation

Medicine
The University of Kentucky College of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Each physician should claim only those hours of credit actually spent in the educational activity.

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine presents this activity for educational purposes only. Participants are expected to utilize their own expertise and judgment while engaged in the practice of medicine. The content of the presentations is provided solely by presenters who have been selected for presentations because of recognized expertise in their field.

Faculty Disclosure

The faculty has reported the following:

Dr. Mease serves on the Speaker’s Bureau for Abbott Laboratories, Amgen Inc, Biogen Idec Inc, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Centocor Inc, Genentech Inc, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals; receives Contract Research Support from Abbott Laboratories, Amgen Inc, Biogen Idec Inc, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Centocor Inc, Genentech Inc, Roche, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals; and is a consultant for Abbott Laboratories, Amgen Inc, Biogen Idec Inc, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Centocor, Genentech Inc, Roche, UCB, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals.

Dr. Ruderman receives Contract Research Support from Abbott Laboratories, Amgen Inc, Biogen Idec Inc, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Genentech Inc, Roche; and is a consultant for Abbott Laboratories, Amgen Inc, Biogen Idec Inc, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Genentech Inc, Roche, UCB.

Dr. Khan serves on the Speaker’s Bureau for Abbott Laboratories, Amgen Inc, Centocor Inc, Schering-Plough, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals; and is a consultant for Abbott Laboratories, Amgen Inc, Centocor Inc, Schering-Plough, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals.

Dr. Hashefi has disclosed no relevant financial relationships with any commercial interests.

Planning Committee Mandy Johnson, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Randy Robbin, John Savage, Rosemary Hodgson, Richard Tyska, PharmD, and William Kormos, NACCME-Princeton CME have disclosed no relevant financial relationships with any commercial interests.

Sponsorship
Supported by educational grants from Genentech, Inc and Biogen Idec Inc, Abbott Laboratories, Centocor, Inc, UCB, Inc, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Amgen Inc, and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals.

 

Copyright © 2008 by North American Center for Continuing Medical Education, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this accredited continuing education activity may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without first obtaining permission from the North American Center for Continuing Medical Education.