Series Overview

These activities are especially for busy clinicians who are interested in keeping abreast of cutting-edge data and novel therapies in the treatment of autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs). Expert faculty will bridge the gap between the current immunobiologic data and the day-to-day workings of clinical practice through didactic, interactive, and case-based educational initiatives.

Target Audience

This activity is intended for rheumatologists, immunologists, clinical researchers, and allied
health care professionals, including nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants, who care for patients with autoimmune diseases.

Accreditation

These activities have been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.

Activity Director

Leonard Calabrese, DO
Professor of Medicine
Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine
RJ Fasenmyer Chair of Clinical Immunology
Department of Rheumatic
   and Immunologic Diseases
Cleveland, Ohio

Objectives

On completion of this educational series, participants will be able to:

• Cite the key clinical features of recent advances in B-cell biology as they relate to autoimmune rheumatic diseases
• Review advances in molecular biology that contribute to the understanding of the integrated immune response and the pathogenesis of autoimmune rheumatic diseases
• Discuss the most recently published clinical data relating to the usage of B-cell–directed therapies for rheumatoid arthritis
• Examine current approaches to the usage of B-cell–directed therapeutics in rheumatoid arthritis and explore strategies to optimize treatment outcomes, including efficacy and safety
• Identify current approaches and clinical challenges in using B-cell–directed therapies in systemic lupus erythematosus, vasculitis, and other autoimmune rheumatic diseases
• Describe recent advances in the development of novel B-cell–directed therapies
• Describe the role of the allied health professional in the overall management of patients on B-cell–directed therapies from the perspective of patient counseling, assessing risks and benefits, administering and monitoring drug therapies, and assessing and managing drug-related toxicities

 
The Cleveland Clinic Foundation Center for Continuing Education acknowledges
an educational grant for support of this activity from Genentech, Inc. and Biogen Idec.