Advances in Immunosuppressive Therapy for Solid Organ Transplantation

Faculty

Simin Goral, MD
Professor of Medicine
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Transplant Fellowship Director
University of Pennsylvania
PKD Clinic Director
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Manikkam Suthanthiran, MD
Stanton Griffis Distinguished Professor of Medicine
Chief, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension
Weill Cornell Medical College
Chief, Department of Transplantation Medicine and Extracorporeal Therapy
New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center
New York, New York

Lewis W. Teperman, MD
Associate Professor, Service Chief at NYUHC
Division Chief Transplant Surgery
Vice Chair Department of Surgery
NYU Transplant Associates
New York, New York

Target Audience

This activity was developed for healthcare professionals involved in the management of patients who receive renal or liver transplants.

Program Description

The goal of this activity is to provide healthcare professionals with practical strategies for tailoring immunosuppressive therapy to reduce the incidence of acute cellular rejection in patients who have undergone renal or liver transplantation. Athough allograft rejection rates have declined considerably over the past few decades with advances in immunosuppressive therapy, patients who do experience episodes of acute cellular rejection are at increased risk for poor long-term outcomes. The emergence of novel treatments, combination therapy, and individualized management strategies has the potential to reduce the risk of acute cellular rejection even further. Optimization of patient monitoring, treatment regimens, and adherence efforts to improve long-term patient outcomes will be highlighted in this engaging, case-based Clinical Research Updates™ expert roundtable.

Learning Objectives

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

1. Discuss the immunologic mechanisms of acute cellular rejection following solid organ transplantation, including implications for various immunosuppressive agents
2. Describe the clinical profiles of available immunosuppressive drugs and formulations
3. Individualize medication regimens for recipients of liver or renal transplantation based on treatment stage, potential toxicities, and comorbidities
4. Monitor patients on immunosuppressive therapy for allograft function, adverse effects, treatment-emergent infections, and other complications
5. Counsel transplant patients on the rationale for immunosuppressive regimens and the importance of ongoing treatment adherence to prescribed medications

Physician Accreditation Statement

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 Global Education Group (Global) and Integritas Communications, LLC. Global is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Global Education Group designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. 

The faculty reported the following financial relationships or relationships to products or devices they or their spouse/life partner have with commercial interests related to the content of this CME activity: 

Instructions for Obtaining Credit

In order to receive credit, participants must complete the preactivity questionnaire, postactivity questionnaire, and program evaluation. Participants must also score at least a 70% on the posttest.

For information about the accreditation of this program, please contact Global at 303-395-1782 or inquire@globaleducationgroup.com

Fee Information & Refund/Cancellation Policy

There is no fee for this educational activity.

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

Global requires instructors, planners, managers, and other individuals and their spouses/life partners who are in a position to control the content of this activity to disclose any real or apparent conflict of interest they may have as related to the content of this activity. All identified conflicts of interest are thoroughly vetted by Global for fair balance, scientific objectivity of studies mentioned in the materials or used as the basis for content, and appropriateness of patient care recommendations.

The faculty reported the following financial relationships or relationships to products or devices they or their spouses/life partners have with commercial interests related to the content of this CME activity:

Simin Goral, MD; Grant/Research Support: Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.; Speakers' Bureau: sanofi-aventis US, LLC

Manikkam Suthanthiran, MD has nothing to disclose.

Lewis W. Teperman, MD; Consultant: Biotest Pharmaceutical Corporation, Gilead Sciences, Janssen, Novartis, Onyx-Bayer, Vertex Group Inc., Vital Therapies, Inc.; Speakers' Bureau: Gilead Sciences, Novartis, Onyx-Bayer, Vertex Group, Inc.

The following planners and managers, Rose O’Connor, PhD; Amanda Glazar, PhD; Ashely Marostica, RN, MSN; and Andrea Funk report that they have nothing to disclose

Disclosure of Unlabeled Use

This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Global Education Group (Global) and Integritas Communications do not recommend the use of any agent outside of the labeled indications. 

The opinions expressed in the educational activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily represent the views of any organization associated with this activity. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.