Rheumatic Disease eJournal Club
Recent advances in the diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of
rheumatic disease have increased the potential for improved outcomes, including a state of low disease activity or remission. The availability of biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) has profoundly altered the approach to treatment and the potential for improved response in many patients.
Nevertheless, rheumatologists and other clinicians face continued challenges in optimizing patient care, and many may lack skill in optimizing therapy to control rheumatic disease activity. Management of comorbid conditions and adverse events including infection may be suboptimal, and delays in diagnosis could delay initiation of appropriate treatment. In addition, many patients continue to have active disease despite initiation of therapy. This is important because the initiation of early, aggressive treatment has been shown to improve outcomes in some patients. Treatment response and susceptibility to adverse effects may vary by patient. To use DMARDs effectively in clinical practice, and in accordance with evidence-based guidelines, clinicians should be aware of their differing mechanisms of action, efficacy, and safety data. Individualized treatment approaches are needed to improve overall patient outcomes.
This eJournal Club series will engage rheumatologists, primary care physicians, and other interested clinicians in an examination, discussion, and assessment of the most recent peer-reviewed literature that addresses rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), gout, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)–associated vasculitis. Emerging strategies for the management of these rheumatic diseases will be emphasized.
eJournal Club Webcasts |
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Initiation of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Antagonists and the Risk of Hospitalization for Infection in Patients With Autoimmune Diseases | |
| Estimated Time: 30 minutes Release Date: December 20, 2011 Type: Webcast |
Technical Requirements: Windows Media Expiration Date: December 20, 2012 Specialties: Rheumatology/Immunology |
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Circulating Markers of Vascular Injury and Angiogenesis in ANCA-Associated Vascular | |
| Estimated Time: 30 minutes Release Date: December 7, 2011 Type: Webcast |
Technical Requirements: Windows Media Expiration Date: December 7, 2012 Specialties: Rheumatology/Immunology |
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Malignancies Associated with Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors in Registries and Prospective Observational Studies - A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis | |
| Estimated Time: 30 minutes Release Date: November 10, 2011 Type: Webcast |
Technical Requirements: Windows Media Expiration Date: November 10, 2012 Specialties: Rheumatology/Immunology |
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Target Audience
The target audience includes rheumatologists, primary care physicians, and other clinicians who treat patients with rheumatic diseases such as RA, PsA, AS, gout, SLE, and ANCA-associated vasculitis.
Activity Director
Leonard H. Calabrese, DO
Professor of Medicine
Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University
Vice Chairman
Department of Rheumatic & Immunologic Diseases
R.J. Fasenmyer Chair of Clinical Immunology
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, Ohio
Accreditation
These activities have been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
