Accreditation

The American Society of Nephrology is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation

The American Society of Nephrology designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit^TM.

Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Course Description

The optimal therapy for lupus nephritis remains controversial. This activity examines the classification and histology of the different forms of lupus nephritis and discusses therapeutic options for induction and maintenance therapy. The role of established therapies (steroids, cyclophosphamide, mycophenolate mofetil) and emerging therapies (biologics) is reviewed and debated.

Target Audience

Physicians, researchers, and trainees.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity the participant will be able to

• Restate the International Society of Nephrology/Renal Pathology Society's classification of lupus nephritis, and identify histology of various subtypes of this disease
• Compare traditional treatment options for lupus nephritis and evaluate the supporting clinical evidence for each form of therapy
• Define the emerging role of biologic therapies to treat lupus nephritis in terms of their safety, efficacy and effectiveness
• Assess the value of prognostic factors in diagnosing and managing systemic lupus erythematosus based on their use in different patient types and in different stages of disease.

Commercial Support

This activity is supported by an educational grant from Genentech and Biogen Idec.

Method of Participation

Study the educational content. Complete the posttest; 80% correct required for full credit on first submission.

Time to Complete

Approximately 1 hour.

Date of Original Release

June 2008.

Expiration Date

June 30, 2009.

Faculty Biographies

Michael P. Madaio, MD - Program Chair
Chief, Section of Nephrology and Kidney Transplantation
Professor of Medicine
Department of Medicine
Temple University School of Medicine
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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James E. Balow, MD
Clinical Director
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, Maryland

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Gabriel Contreras, MD, MPH
Associate Professor of Medicine
Department of Nephrology & Hypertension
Miller School of Medicine
University of Miami
Director, Inpatient Acute Dialysis Services
Jackson Memorial Hospital
Jackson Memorial Medical Center
Miami, Florida

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Melvin M. Schwartz, MD
Professor of Pathology
Department of Pathology
Rush University Medical Center
Chicago, Illinois

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Vibeke Strand, MD, FACP, FACR
Biopharmaceutical Consultant
Adjunct Clinical Professor
Division of Immunology and Rheumatology
Stanford University School of Medicine
Portola Valley, California

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Faculty Disclosure

The ASN is responsible for identifying and resolving all conflicts of interest prior to presenting any educational activity to learners to ensure that ASN CME activities promote quality and safety, are effective in improving medical practice, are based on valid content, and are independent of the control from commercial interests and free of commercial bias. All faculty are instructed to provide balanced, scientifically rigorous, and evidence-based presentations.

In accordance with the disclosure policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) as well as guidelines of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), individuals who are in a position to control the content of an educational activity are required to disclose relationships with a commercial interest if (a) the relation is financial and occurred within the last 12 months; and (b) the individual had the opportunity to affect the content of continuing medical education with regard to commercial interest.

James Balow: none.
Gabriel Contreras: Consultant: Aspreva; Scientific Advisor: Aspreva; Honorarium: Aspreva.
Michael Madaio: Consultant: Aspreva, Biogen, La Jolla Pharmaceuticals, Osprey Pharmaceuticals.
Melvin Schwartz: none.
Vibeke Strand: Consultant: Abbott, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Biogen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Can-Fite, Centocor, Forest, Novartis, Pfizer, Proctor and Gamble, Roche, Schering-Plough, SKK, UCB, Wyeth; Scientific Advisor: Abbott, Amgen, Biogen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Can-Fite, Centocor, Chelsea, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Schering-Plough, UCB; Honoraria: Abbott, Amgen, Centocor, Pfizer.   

The faculty approved edited highlights of the live symposium.

Introductory and closing remarks were added by the Program Chair.