Release date: January 2009
Expiration date: January 31, 2010

Estimated time to complete activity: 30 minutes

Sponsored by Curatio CME Institute

Support for this activity has been provided through an educational grant from Genentech, Inc., Biogen Idec, Amgen, Wyeth, and UCB.

Activity Overview
In June 2008, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) issued updated recommendations for using disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The recommendations, which had not been updated since 2003, include biologic agents in their scope for the first time. Developed to reflect current standards in the management of RA, the updated recommendations include treatment algorithms based on accumulated scientific evidence. In this Expert Practice article, Dr. Kenneth G. Saag, a member of the Task Force Panel and lead author of the updated ACR recommendations, discusses the new recommendations, describing the role of disease activity assessment, safety monitoring, contraindications, and the use of specific agents in the management of RA.

Target Audience
This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of rheumatologists and other health care professionals involved in the care of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:

• Identify patients who have features of poor disease prognosis
• Discuss safety issues and contraindications to be considered when using biologic agents for rheumatoid arthritis
• Determine which patients are candidates for biologic agents
• Compare recommended laboratory monitoring for biologic agents

Faculty
Kenneth G. Saag, MD, MSc
Professor, Medicine & Epidemiology
Division of Clinical Immunology & Rheumatology
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama

Accreditation Statement
Curatio CME Institute is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation
Curatio CME Institute designates this educational activity for a maximum of 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit^TM. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Method of Participation
There are no fees for participating in this CME activity. To receive credit during the period January 2009 to January 31, 2010, participants must (1) read the learning objectives and disclosure statements, (2) study the educational activity, (3) complete the posttest, and (4) complete the activity evaluation form, including the certificate information section.

Media
The Internet was selected as the instructional format to accommodate the learning preferences of a significant portion of the target audience.

Disclosure
In accordance with the ACCME’s Standards for Commercial Support, all CME providers are required to disclose to the activity audience the relevant financial relationships of everyone in a position to control content of an educational activity. A relevant financial relationship is a relationship in any amount occurring in the last 12 months with a commercial interest whose products or services are discussed in the CME activity content over which the individual has control. Relationship information appears below:

Kenneth Saag, MD, MSc has disclosed the following relevant financial relationship(s):

Curatio CME Institute

Shari J. Dermer, PhD, Medical Director, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
Heather Haley, Writer, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
Lauren Showers, Program Manager, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
Barbara Bekiesz, Editor, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

Disclaimer
The information presented at this activity is for continuing medical education purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the independent medical judgment of a physician regarding diagnosis and treatment of a specific patient’s medical condition.

Unapproved Product Use
This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the US Food and Drug Administration. Curatio CME Institute, Genentech, Inc., Biogen Idec, Amgen, Wyeth, and UCB do not recommend the use of any agent outside the labeled indications.

The opinions expressed in this educational activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily represent the views of Curatio CME Institute, Genentech, Inc., Biogen Idec, Amgen, Wyeth, or UCB. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.

Hardware/Software Requirements

• Version 5.0 or higher for Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape 6 or higher
• If you are using a Mac computer system and are experiencing problems with your browser, we suggest downloading the latest version of Firefox for Mac

Contact Information
RAoutlook.org
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Suite 103
Exton, PA 19341
raoutlook@curatiocme.com

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