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CME/CE Programs : CME Programs
Continuing Medical Education (CME) Programs Please select from the following activities:

Featured CME Activity
Using Biologic Agents in Combination With Other Systemic Therapies in Psoriasis Patients
CME-Certified Expert Practice Article with Jennifer C. Cather, MD

The overwhelming majority of clinical trial data on the efficacy and safety of biologics in psoriasis treatment focuses on monotherapy. Consequently, many dermatologists assume that biologics cannot be combined with other systemic psoriasis treatments. In this Expert Practice, Jennifer C. Cather, MD, a dermatologist in practice at Modern Dermatology in Dallas, Texas, discusses the suitability of combining biologics with other types of psoriasis treatments, such as methotrexate, cyclosporine, or ultraviolet light. This article focuses on the ways that combination therapy with biologic and systemic agents can offer new strategies for improved management of psoriasis.
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Additional CME Activities
New Biologic Agents in Development for Psoriasis
CME-Certified Expert Practice Article with Gerald G. Krueger, MD

There is considerable excitement surrounding several new biologic agents with novel mechanisms of action and their potential as treatments for psoriasis. We recently interviewed Gerald G. Krueger, MD, Professor of Dermatology at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, to gain his insights on the emerging data for these agents. In this Expert Practice, Dr. Krueger discusses the mechanisms of action of these agents in development, as well as the clinical data reported to date.

Update on the Long-Term Safety of Biologic Agents for Psoriasis
CME-Certified Expert Practice Article with Bruce Strober, MD, PhD

The use of biologics to treat psoriasis is increasing with each passing year. Although the efficacy of biologics has been established, investigation of the long-term safety of these agents is only starting. In this Expert Practice, Dr. Bruce Strober of the Dermatopharmacology Unit at the New York University School of Medicine discusses current data on the long-term safety of the biologics used to treat psoriasis.

Evolution of the Treatment of Hand and Foot Psoriasis
Co-Chairs: Faculty:
Scott A. Fretzin, MD David J. Cohen, MD
Jeffrey M. Weinberg, MD Jeffrey J. Crowley, MD

This interactive CME/CNE-certified activity features an update on current treatment options for this difficult-to-treat condition together with case studies presented by national opinion leaders.

Hand and foot psoriasis is particularly challenging. Many of the older therapies yield less than optimal responses. Emerging reports indicate an important role for biologic agents, and significant improvement has been observed in patients affected with this clinically challenging form of psoriasis. This interactive activity provides an update to health care professionals who treat psoriasis on developing clinical experience in the treatment of hand and foot psoriasis and will also demonstrate the thought processes of experts as they vary therapy to achieve optimal response.

Addressing Quality-of-Life Issues in Psoriasis: Impact of Biologic Agents
CME-Certified Expert Practice Article with Melodie S. Young, MSN, RN, A/NP-C

In patients with psoriasis, quality of life (QOL) issues are a significant concern. Melodie S. Young, a nurse practitoner who practices at Modern Dermatology, a Baylor-Health Texas Affiliate in Dallas, was recently interviewed on the topic of QOL among psoriasis patients. In this Expert Practice, Ms. Young discusses the measurement tools used to assess QOL, how psoriasis negatively affects the lives of patients, and how successful treatment can improve QOL.

A Dermatologist’s Guide to Psoriatic Arthritis
CME-Certified Expert Practice Article with Erin Boh, MD, PhD

Early recognition and treatment of psoriatic arthritis are the keys to improving care in patients with this disease. Recently, we interviewed Erin Boh, MD, PhD, Professor of Dermatology at Tulane University Medical School, who offered insights for dermatologists on how to best identify patients with psoriatic arthritis. In this Expert Practice, Dr. Boh discusses the incidence, signs, and symptoms of psoriatic arthritis, as well as the diagnostic tests and options available to manage patients with this condition.

Defining Success in the Treatment of Psoriasis:
What Works for Your Patient
Featuring:
David Jay Cohen, MD – Faculty Chair
Susan E. Katz, MD – CCME Reviewer
Jerry Bagel, MD
Richard G.B. Langley, MD, FRCPC
Jeffrey M. Sobell, MD

This activity is designed for dermatologists involved in the management of patients with psoriasis. Psoriasis is not life threatening, but it is a chronic disease that can be highly debilitating, and it currently has no cure. Traditional treatments may not be effective and some have poor side-effect profiles that limit their use. Thus, many treatments fail to meet the clinical needs for safe and effective therapy. The goal of this activity is to discuss various treatment strategies in patients with psoriasis using biologic therapy, which will aid clinicians in delivering better patient care.

Sponsored by Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center.

Strategies for the Management of Nail, Hand, and Foot Psoriasis
CME-Certified Expert Practice Article with Lubomira Scherschun, MD

On April 10, 2007 Curatio CME Institute interviewed Lubomira Scherschun, MD, a dermatologist at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, for her insights on the management of nail, hand, and foot psoriasis. In the resulting Expert Practice article Dr. Scherschun discusses the epidemiology and varying presentation of hand, foot, and nail psoriasis. Treatment strategies for patients with this recalcitrant type of psoriasis will also be reviewed.

Biologic Agents and Psoriasis: Highlights From the 65th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology
CME-Certified Meeting Report
Edited by: Alan Menter, MD

Psoriasis was the topic of more than 110 posters presented at the 65th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology. Approximately 40 presentations focused on biologic agents used to treat psoriasis. Updates on efficacy and safety, as well as interim analysis of pivotal clinical trial data, were the subjects of several posters. Data examining the use of biologic agents in children, pregnant women, and difficult-to-treat cases were also presented. Meeting highlights presented in this report underscore the fact that although biologics are an accepted part of the therapeutic armamentarium for psoriasis, clinicians are still learning how to best manage their use in patients with moderate to severe disease.

The Impact of Weight on Long-Term Success in Psoriasis Treatment
Program Chair: Kenneth B. Gordon, MD

It is important for dermatologists to learn about the comorbidities commonly found in psoriasis patients who are obese, as well as the other weight-related factors that may affect the treatment outcome of psoriasis patients who receive biologic therapy. This Web teleconference will explore the data on obesity and psoriasis and will further educate dermatologists on the effect of weight on successful treatment of this patient population.

Managing Psoriasis in Overweight and Obese Patients
CME-Certified Expert Practice Article with Mark Lebwohl, MD

Mark Lebwohl, MD, Professor of Dermatology at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, discusses the relationship between psoriasis and obesity. Dr. Lebwohl addresses comorbidities associated with obesity and offers suggestions on how to optimize treatment for psoriasis patients who are obese.

New Long-Term Efficacy Data on Biologics in Psoriasis: Impact on Patient Management
CME Newsletter, May 2007

Dermatologists have learned how to optimize clinical response with biologics based on 3 years of experience with these agents. Emerging data have indicated differences in response over time. Some of these differences seem to be patient-specific, others seem to be related to the differences between T-cell and anti-TNF agents, and some seem to occur only within the anti-TNF class of agents. This newsletter will summarize a recent webcast including new and evolving data, practical implications to optimize therapy for each psoriasis patient, and questions and answers during the webcast.

Managing Psoriasis in Overweight and Obese Patients: Evaluating Treatment Challenges and Addressing Special Needs
Biologic Bulletin Newsletter, March 2007

Recent studies have further established that overweight and obesity are common among psoriasis patients, and that higher body weight is associated with increased psoriasis severity. Treatment of overweight and obese psoriasis patients is complicated by several factors, including disease severity, size and location of lesions, comorbidities that are often encountered in this patient population, and the decreased likelihood of satisfactory patient response with fixed-dose systemic therapies. Safe and effective management of overweight and obese psoriasis patients requires the clinician to recognize and avoid treatment strategies that risk exacerbating coexisting problems, adding to the patient’s overall health risk, or interacting adversely with other medications being taken. Biologic agents may be preferable for overweight and obese psoriasis patients, though these, too, carry risks and must be used carefully. The importance of correct dosing in overweight and obese psoriasis patients must also be kept in mind. Fixed-dose therapies across drug classes have been shown to be increasingly less effective as patient weight increases. Among the biologic agents for psoriasis, efalizumab and infliximab are dosed by weight, and both demonstrate comparable efficacy across all weight categories.

Real-World Review of Biologics in Psoriasis: Practical Experience in Selecting the Right Agent for Each Patient
Biologic Bulletin Newsletter, January 2007
Editors: Craig L. Leonardi, MD; Lubomira Scherschun, MD; and Jeffrey M. Sobell, MD

At a meeting in July in San Diego, a number of posters and presentations reviewed the latest findings related to the use of biologic agents for the treatment of psoriasis. With increasing experience, dermatologists have learned more about these agents and how best to use them. New developments include the observation that efficacy of anti–TNF-α gradually declines over time during long-term therapy and also declines in many patients following dose reduction with etanercept. In addition, etanercept appears to be less effective in patients with high body weight, while the efficacy of efalizumab and infliximab is unaffected by patient weight, which is not surprising, since these agents are dosed by weight. Increased experience has also taught dermatologists that these new therapies are effective across a range of psoriasis subtypes, including patients with particularly difficult-to-treat variants such as psoriatic arthritis, nail psoriasis, and psoriasis involving the hands and feet.

New Long-Term Efficacy Data on Biologics in Psoriasis: Impact on Patient Management
CME Teleconference/Webcast, November/December 2006
Program Chair: Jeffrey M. Sobell, MD

As dermatologists have gained experience with the biologic agents for the treatment of psoriasis, it has become evident that there are differences in response between agents, including inadequate response or loss of response over time in some patients. Some of these differences seem to be patient-specific and may be related to the heterogeneity of the disease itself. Others seem to be related to the differences between the T-cell agents and the anti-TNF agents, and some seem to occur only within the anti-TNF class of agents. An understanding of these differences and why they occur is being explored, and as new data are emerging, dermatologists are trying to learn more about these differences in order to optimize therapy for each patient. This teleconference series will explore the new and evolving data on the long-term effects of biologic agents and how to deal with them.