Release Date: May 26, 2009
Expiration Date: May 25, 2010
Amount of CME Credit: Maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
Length of Time for Completion: 1.5 hour

There is no fee to participate in this activity.

Program Overview

Gout, a chronic illness characterized by deposition of monosodium urate crystals and recurrent bouts of joint inflammation, affects approximately 1 in 100 people in the US, and its prevalence continues to rise.

Exciting recent discoveries give new hope to the millions of patients with gout in the US. Researchers have developed new understanding of the pathophysiology of gout, including the link between gout or hyperuricemia and cardiovascular and renal disorders. In addition, new and emerging therapeutic options may offer the possibility of improved disease management for many patients.

In this monograph, rheumatologists and clinicians alike will review recent pathophysiologic insights into improved imaging techniques, as well as the novel therapeutic options available to benefit their management of patients with gout today.

Target Audience
This activity is designed for rheumatologists, physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, physician assistants and pharmacists who have a special interest in the diagnosis and treatment of gout and hyperuricemia.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe recent advances in understanding the pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying hyperuricemia and the inflammation of an acute gout attack
• Apply recommended guidelines for the diagnosis of gout to their practice and understand how ultrasound and other imaging techniques might aid in diagnosing gout or monitoring its progression
• Review the latest research on the relationship between elevated serum uric acid and associated risk factors and comorbidities
• Assess the evidence for the newest urate-lowering therapies

Expert Reviewers
H. Ralph Schumacher, Jr., MD
Professor of Medicine
University of Pennsylvania &VA Medical Center
Philadelphia, PA

Arthur L. Weaver, MD, MS, FACP, MACR
Clinical Professor of Medicine Emeritus
Department of Medicine, Section of Rheumatology
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, NE

Medical Writer
Helen Kim, MD
TCL Institute, LLC

Instructions for Participating and Obtaining CME Credit

• Review the entire activity
• Please visit http://www.totalmeded.com/rheum/monograph/8065/ to complete the required post-test and evaluation and to receive your certificate of credit
• Browser Requirements: Internet Explorer v6 or higher Mozilla Firefox 2.0 or higher.

For questions regarding CME for this activity, you may reach the Office of CME at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine  http://www.med.upenn.edu/cme/.

Please contact TCL Institute, LLC with any other questions via phone, (919) 467-0006 ext. 233.

Accreditation
The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Designation of Credit

Physicians
The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Physician Assistants
Physician Assistants can claim a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™

Nurse Practitioners
This program is approved for 1.1 contact hour(s) of continuing education by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.  Program ID 0902062.

Nurses
TCL Institute, LLC is a provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number 15225 for 1.2 contact hours.

RNs outside California must verify with their licensing agency for approval of this course.

Pharmacists
Purdue University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. This is an application based, continuing education activity of Purdue University, an equal access/equal opportunity institution. Universal Program Number (UPN): 018-999-09-017-H01-P, 1.5 contact hours (0.15 CEU). Release Date: May 26, 2009  Expiration Date: May 25, 2010

Disclosures
It is policy at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and the TCL Institute, LLC for individuals who are in a position to control the content of an educational activity to disclose to the learners all relevant financial relationships that they have with any commercial interest that provides products or services that may be relevant to the content of this continuing medical education activity.  For this purpose we consider relationships of the person involved in the CME activity to include financial relationships of a spouse or partner.

The intent of this policy is not to prevent expert faculty with relevant relationship(s) with commercial interest(s) from involvement in CME, but rather to ensure that Penn CME-certified activities promote quality and safety, are effective in improving medical practice, are based on valid content, and are independent of control from commercial interests and free of commercial bias. Peer review of all content was conducted for all faculty presentations whose disclosure information provided to the Penn Office of CME was found to contain relationships that created a conflict of interest relative to the topic of their presentation. In addition, all faculty were instructed to provide balanced, scientifically rigorous and evidence-based presentations.
The staff in the Office of CME at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, our educational partner TCL Institute, medical writer, Helen Kim, and the peer reviewer, Zalman Agus, MD, have reported no relevant financial relationships with any commercial interests related to the content of this educational activity.

The following faculty have reported the listed relevant financial relationships with commercial interests related to the content of this educational activity.

Dr. Weaver reported that he serves as a speaker and member of the advisory board for and consultant to Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc. He also reported that he serves as a member of the advisory board for and consultant to Savient Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Dr. Schumacher reported that he is a consultant to Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc., Savient Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Pfizer Inc., and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and receives research grants from Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc.

Relevant Financial Relationships
Financial relationships are those relationships in which the individual benefits by receiving a salary, royalty, intellectual property rights, consulting fee, honoraria, ownership interest (e.g., stocks, stock options or other ownership interest, excluding diversified mutual funds), or other financial benefit. Financial benefits are usually associated with roles such as employment, management position, independent contractor (including contracted research), consulting, speaking and teaching, membership on advisory committees or review panels, board membership, and other activities from which remuneration is received or expected.

Investigational and/or Off-Label Use of Commercial Products and Devices
The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine requires all faculty to disclose any planned discussion of an investigational and/or off-label use of a pharmaceutical product or device within their presentation. Participants should note that the use of products outside FDA-approved labeling should be considered experimental and are advised to consult current prescribing information for approved indications.

The faculty of this monograph have indicated that there will be discussions that may include investigational and/or off-label use of commercial products in their presentation. Faculty were instructed to alert the learners of any specific mentions of investigational and/or off-label use of products or services during their presentations.

Nondiscrimination Statement
The University of Pennsylvania values diversity and seeks talented students, faculty, and staff from diverse backgrounds. The University of Pennsylvania does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, color, national, or ethnic origin, age, disability, or status as a Vietnam Era Veteran or disabled veteran in the administration of educational policies, programs, or activities; admissions policies; scholarship and loan awards; or athletic or other University administered programs or employment. Questions or complaints regarding this policy should be directed to: Executive Director, Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Programs, 3600 Chestnut Street, Sansom Place East, Suite 228, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6106 or (215) 898-6993 (Voice) or (215) 898-7803 (TDD).