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Understanding MS
 
Quality Assessment in Multiple Sclerosis Therapy-The QUASIMS Survey
Sponsored by the Postgraduate Institute for Medicine
Release date: July 15, 2004
Expiration date: July 15, 2005
Estimated time to complete: 1 hour
Media: Internet
Supported through an educational grant from Biogen Idec
  • Program Overview
  • Disease modifying therapies such as interferons (IFN) have altered the clinical course of patients with multiple sclerosis. There are 3 interferons available: 2 types of interferon beta-1a (Avonex® and Rebif®) and interferon beta-1b (Betaseron®). However, there is no prospective trial comparing these 3 preparations. A soon-to-be-published retrospective, open-label study, QUASIMS (Quality Assessment in Multiple Sclerosis Therapy), contains the largest cohort of treated MS patients, 4754 total, assembled to compare available IFNß products in a wide range of clinical practice settings. This emerging data provides important answers about efficacy, adverse events, dosing, and switching between preparations.
  • Target Audience
  • Neurologists and other healthcare professionals involved in the management and treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis.
  • Learning Objectives
  • As a result of participation in this activity, participants will be able to:
    • Contrast comparative studies of the beta interferons in MS, and the pivotal phase III studies
    • Describe the strengths and weaknesses of QUASIMS and the QUASIMS study design
    • Summarize available data regarding comparative efficacy of the IFN-ßs preparations
    • Review QUASIMS data regarding initial versus follow-up therapies and their relevance to switching between IFN-ßs
  • Faculty: Multiple Sclerosis Expert Panel
  • James R. Miller, MD
    Chairman

    Dr. Miller is the former director of the Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Care Center at the New York Presbyterian Hospital at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center. Dr. Miller received his medical degree from the New York University School of Medicine. He then went on to do his internship in internal medicine at the New York University School of Medical Divisions, Bellevue Hospital and his residency in neurology at the New York Neurological Institute at the Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center. He also completed a special fellowship in neurovirology at The Rockefeller University in New York City. He is board certified in neurology.

    Dr. Miller's major research interests are multiple sclerosis and central nervous system infections. He has received a number of honors and awards in these areas including a Cardin Fellowship in Immunology and Virology of the Romill Foundation and a Fulbright Visiting Lecturer in Neurovirology (India). He has published over 40 articles and book chapters.

    Volker Limmroth, MD
    Associate Professor and Vice Chairman of Neurology and Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Center at the University Hospital of Essen - Essen, Germany

    Volker Limmroth, MD, is an associate professor and vice chairman of the department of neurology, University of Essen, and consultant neurologist at the University Hospital of Essen in Germany. He is also head of the neurochemistry laboratory and the director of the Multiple Sclerosis Center at the University Hospital of Essen.

    Dr. Limmroth attended medical school at Georg-August-Universität in Göttingen, Germany, University of Rio de Janeiro and Recife, Brazil. He completed his internship at the Hospital das Clinicas in Recife and the University Hospital in Göttingen, Germany. He served his residency in neurology at the University of Essen and his fellowship at the neuroscience center of Massachusetts General Hospital at Harvard University. Dr. Limmroth earned his PhD in clinical pharmacology at the University of Essen.

    Dr. Limmroth is a member of a number of professional organizations, including the German Neurological Society and the American Academy of Neurology. He is the author of more than 100 scientific papers and 5 books.

    Jeffrey Greenstein, MD
    Clinical Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at Temple University School of Medicine, and Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Institute - Philadelphia, PA

    Dr. Greenstein received his medical degree from the University of Cape Town in South Africa and completed his residency in neurology and his fellowship in neuropathology at Cleveland Metropolitan General Hospital in Ohio. Dr. Greenstein is board certified in neurology.

    Dr. Greenstein's research interests include the regulation of immune responses to self antigens to MS, functional neuroimaging of gait disorders, and experimental immunotherapy in multiple sclerosis. Dr. Greenstein is widely published in scientific and neurology journals and sits on the board of trustees of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

  • Instructions for CME Credit
  • 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 the Postgraduate Institute for Medicine (PIM) and Healthology. Postgraduate Institute for Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

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

    Faculty Disclosure Statements
    Postgraduate Institute for Medicine has a conflict of interest policy that requires course faculty to disclose any real or apparent commercial financial affiliations related to the content of their presentations/materials. It is not assumed that these financial interests or affiliations will have an adverse impact on faculty presentations; they are simply noted here to fully inform participants.

  • Faculty Disclosure Statement
  • James R. Miller, MD: Consultant: Biogen Idec

    Volker Limmroth, MD: Honorarium: Biogen Idec

    Jeffrey Greenstein, MD: Honorarium: Biogen Idec

  • Method of Participation
  • There are no fees for participating and receiving CME credit for this activity. During the period July 15, 2004, through July 15, 2005, participants must: 1) read the learning objectives and faculty disclosures; 2) study the educational activity; 3) complete the Posttest by recording the best answer to each question in the answer key on the Evaluation Form; 4) complete the Evaluation Form; and 5) mail or fax the Evaluation Form with answer key to Postgraduate Institute for Medicine.

    A statement of credit will be issued only upon receipt of a completed activity Evaluation Form and a completed Posttest with a score of 70% or better. Your statement of credit will be mailed to you within 3 weeks.

  • Disclosure of Unlabeled Use
  • This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the FDA. Postgraduate Institute for Medicine does 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 Postgraduate Institute for Medicine and Healthology. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.

  • Disclaimer
  • Participants have an implied responsibility to use the newly acquired information to enhance patient outcomes and their own professional development. The information presented in this activity is not meant to serve as a guideline for patient management. Any procedures, medications, or other courses of diagnosis or treatment discussed or suggested in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of their patient's conditions and possible contraindications on dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer's product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities.

    This educational program is supported through an educational grant from Biogen Idec.

    Produced by Healthology © 2004

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