Living Medical Textbook - Neurology - Projects In Knowledge - Multiple Sclerosis 2010 Edition Table of Contents - Currently Available Treatments for Multiple Sclerosis CME Information

Chapter 3 – Currently Available Treatments for Multiple Sclerosis

Editor-In-Chief
	Bruce A. Cohen, MD Professor Davee Department of Neurology Feinberg School of Medicine Northwestern University Chicago, Illinois
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Activity Goal
The goal of this CME/CE activity is to examine the pathophysiology, etiologic factors, classification, and diagnostic criteria of multiple sclerosis.

Target Audience
This CME/CE activity is designed for neurologists, internal medicine specialists, family practice/primary care physicians, nurse specialists/nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other health professionals who interact with and are involved in the management and treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis.

Learning Objectives

•	Formulate strategies to manage major acute relapses of multiple sclerosis (MS) that will shorten the duration of the exacerbation and minimize disruption of the patient’s life, while minimizing the risk of adverse effects.
•	Choose a disease-modifying therapy for patients with MS based on mechanism of action, efficacy, safety, dosing/administration, and individual patient-related factors, in order to reduce the occurrence of relapses and minimize progression of disability.
•	Initiate disease-modifying therapy in patients with clinically isolated syndrome likely to convert to MS in order to prevent or delay conversion to clinically definite MS.

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CME Information: Physicians
Statement of Accreditation
Projects In Knowledge^® is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation
Projects In Knowledge designates this educational activity for a maximum of 2.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

CE Information: Nurses
Projects In Knowledge^® (PIK) is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

Projects In Knowledge is also an approved provider by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP-15227.

This activity is approved for 1.14 nursing contact hour(s).

DISCLAIMER: Accreditation refers to educational content only and does not imply ANCC, CBRN, or PIK endorsement of any commercial product or service.

CE Information: Pharmacists

Projects In Knowledge^® is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.

This program has been planned and implemented in accordance with the ACPE Criteria for Quality and Interpretive Guidelines. This chapter is worth up to 2.00 contact hours (0.2 CEUs). The ACPE Universal Program Number assigned to this knowledge activity is 0052-0000-10-601-H01-P.

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Disclosure Information
The Disclosure Policy of Projects In Knowledge requires that presenters comply with the Standards for Commercial Support. All faculty are required to disclose any personal interest or relationship they or their spouse/partner have with the supporters of this activity or any commercial interest that is discussed in their presentation. Any discussions of unlabeled/unapproved uses of drugs or devices will also be disclosed in the course materials. For complete prescribing information on the products discussed during this CME/CE activity, please see your current Physicians' Desk Reference (PDR).

Bruce A. Cohen, MD, has received honoraria and participated in speakers bureaus of Bayer Pharmaceuticals, Biogen Idec, EMD Serono, and Teva Neuroscience; has received consulting fees from Acorda Pharmaceuticals, Astellis, Bayer Pharmaceuticals, Biogen Idec, EMD Serono, Sanofi-Aventis, and Teva Neuroscience; and has ownership interest in Abbott Laboratories and CVS-Caremark.

Lauren A. Cerruto has no significant relationships to disclose.

This activity includes a discussion of studies involving the following off-label uses of available therapies: interferon beta-1b in secondary-progressive MS, and combination therapy with interferon beta-1a and natalizumab in patients who relapsed on interferon beta-1a, and induction therapy. It also includes a discussion of the use of disease-modifying therapies for clinically isolated syndrome (CIS); whereas intramuscular (IM) interferon beta-1a, subcutaneous (SC) interferon beta-1b, and glatiramer acetate are FDA approved for this indication, treatment of CIS is currently an off-label use for SC interferon beta-1a. A new formulation of SC interferon beta-1a that is not currently FDA approved is mentioned.

Peer Reviewer has disclosed no significant relationships.

Projects In Knowledge’s staff members have no significant relationships to disclose.

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Conflicts of interest are thoroughly vetted by the Executive Committee of Projects In Knowledge. All conflicts are resolved prior to the beginning of the activity by the Trust In Knowledge peer review process.

The opinions expressed in this activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily reflect those of Projects In Knowledge.

This CME/CE activity is provided by Projects In Knowledge solely as an educational service. Specific patient care decisions are the responsibility of the clinician caring for the patient.

Contract for Mutual Responsibility in CME/CE

Projects In Knowledge has developed the contract to demonstrate our commitment to providing the highest quality professional education to clinicians, and to help clinicians set educational goals to challenge and enhance their learning experience.

For more information on the contract, click here

Projects In Knowledge is a registered trademark of Projects In Knowledge, Inc.

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