Experience With Anti-TNF-α Therapy in Dermatologic Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Disorders

A supplement to Skin & Allergy News.
This supplement is jointly sponsored by Excerpta Medica, Inc. and Skin & Allergy News and is supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Centocor.
Highlights of presentations given at the Skin Disease Education Foundation's 28th Annual Hawaii Dermatology Seminar, a continuing medical education conference, held on January 10, 2004, on the Big Island of Hawaii.

•Contents
•Target Audience
•Educational Needs
•Learning Objectives
•CME Recognition

To view the supplement, click the image above. To take the CME test, download and print out the PDF file, and follow the test instructions on page 8.

Contents

Psoriasis: Evidence for the Efficacy and Safety of Anti-TNF-α Treatment
Craig L. Leonardi, MD
Associate Clinical Professor of Dermatology
Saint Louis University, Central Dermatology, St. Louis, Mo.
Clinical Grants: Amgen, Biogen, Inc., Centocor, and Genentech, Inc. Consultant: Amgen, Centocor and Genentech. He discusses the investigational use of adalimumab and infliximab for the treatment of psoriasis.

Benefits of Anti-TNF-α Agents in Psoriatic Arthritis: Evidence From Clinical Trials
Zuhre Tutuncu, MD
Associate Professor
Center for Innovative Therapy, Division of Rheumatology
University of California at San Diego Medical Center, La Jolla, Calif.
Nothing to disclose.

Quality of Life in Patients With Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis
Alexa Boer Kimball, MD, MPH
Assistant Professor
Department of Dermatology
Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif.
Clinical Grants/Advisory Board: Amgen Inc. and Centocor Inc. She discusses the investigational use of infliximab for the treatment of psoriasis.

Target Audience

This activity has been developed for dermatologists and other healthcare professionals involved in the treatment of patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

Educational Needs

The traditional systemic treatments for moderate to severe psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, such as cyclosporine and methotrexate, are effective but are associated with significant risk for toxic side effects. The search for new treatments that provide comparable or superior efficacy but without the risk for serious side effects has resulted in new understanding about the molecular basis for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. These avenues of research have yielded several classes of biologic agents, including inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and treatments targeted at pathogenic T cells. In this activity, dermatologists will receive a brief overview of the latest data from clinical trials involving TNF-inhibiting agents.

Learning Objectives

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

• Describe the key actions of TNF in the pathogenesis of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

• Discuss the major findings of the clinical trials of TNF inhibitors in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

• Explain the importance of quality-of-life measures in clinical trials for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

CME Recognition

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint sponsorship of Excerpta Medica, Inc., and Skin & Allergy News. Excerpta Medica is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Excerpta Medica designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1 category 1 credit toward the AMA Physician's Recognition Award. Each physician should claim only those credits that he/she actually spent in the educational activity.

Term of approval: June 2004-May 2005.

Copyright © 2004 by International Medical News Group

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