This program will explore the role of B-cells in the pathogenesis of MS, including the clinical effects of B-cell depletion. The potential impact of new findings regarding pathogenesis on research aimed at finding new therapies for MS will also be discussed by an expert panel.
Intended Audience
This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of neurologists and other health care professionals involved in the management of patients with multiple sclerosis.
There are no prerequisites.
At the conclusion of this activity, participants should be able to:
- Outline the current theories about the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis
- Discuss the emerging role that B-cells are felt to play in MS pathogenesis
- Discuss the histopathology of MS lesions
- Outline the possible mechanisms of action of B-cell depletion strategies as they relate to MS pathogenesis
- Appraise current data from clinical trials regarding the safety and efficacy of B-cell depletion therapies
As a provider accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), it is the policy of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine to require the disclosure of the existence of any significant financial interest or any other relationship a faculty member or a provider has with the manufacturer(s) of any commercial product(s) discussed in an educational presentation. The presenting faculty reported the following:
Peter Calabresi, MD (Program Chair)
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Associate Professor of Neurology
Multiple Sclerosis Center
Grants: Genentech, Inc., Novartis, Teva Neuroscience & Serono, Inc.
Consultant & honorarium: Amgen Inc., Novartis, Serono, Inc., Teva Neuroscience, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Bruce Anthony Campbell Cree, MD, PhD, MCR
Assistant Professor of Neurology
University of California San Francisco School of Medicine
has no relevant conflict of interest to disclose.
Samia Khoury, MD
Associate Professor of Neurology
Brigham and Women's Hospital
has no relevant conflict of interest to disclose.
Off-Label Discussion
The following faculty members have disclosed that their presentation will reference unlabelled/unapproved use of drugs or products:
Dr. Bruce Anthony Campbell Cree
Rituximab
No other faculty member has indicated that their presentation will include information on off-label products.
Disclaimer
The opinions and recommendations expressed by faculty and other experts, whose input is included in this program, are their own. This enduring material is produced for educational purposes only. Uses of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine names imply review of educational format design and approach. Please review the complete prescribing information of specific drugs or combinations of drugs, including indications, contraindications, warnings and adverse effects before administering pharmacologic therapy to patients.
*The "T-Cells" image used in this program was provided by © F. Hoffmann- La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland.
© 2007 the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. All rights reserved.
Click here to review the complete CME information.
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