Community Practice Connections™: Improving Prognosis in SSc-ILD: Best Practices in Diagnosis, Optimizing Clinical Management, and Efficient Patient Communication

Release Date: June 29, 2021
Expiration Date: June 29, 2022

Activity Overview

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a frequent and debilitating complication of systemic sclerosis (SSc), affecting up to 90% of patients diagnosed with SSc. SSc-ILD is a pulmonary fibrosing disorder characterized by systemic inflammation, progressive scarring of the lungs, and eventual respiratory failure. Patients diagnosed with SSc need regular screening for ILD because early detection of progressive lung involvement is critical to achieving the most efficacious response to pharmacologic intervention, which is more beneficial in the early stage of disease. Therapy was previously limited, but 3 agents have recently received approval with specific indications for SSc-ILD. 

This Community Practice Connections™ program provides an in-depth review of some of the key highlights from the virtual symposium held at the American Thoracic Society Meeting in May 2021. This unique and engaging multimedia activity is ideal for the community-based clinician and focuses on the practical aspects of managing patients with systemic sclerosis who are at risk for development of ILD, putting recent clinical trial data into clinical context. The program is designed to provide education for those who did not attend the virtual meeting and to help reinforce learnings for those who did.

Acknowledgement of Commercial Support

This activity is supported by an educational grant from Boehringer Ingelheim.
 

Target Audience

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, you should be better prepared to:

• Review the pathophysiology of SSc-ILD and the implications that new insights have for diagnosing and treating the disease
• Recognize key risk factors and diagnostic tests that could improve early symptom recognition and prognosis of the disease.
• Evaluate key data on new and emerging treatment options for SSc-ILD to properly educate patients.
• Implement team-based strategies to improve individualization of treatment plans for patients with SSc-ILD.

Faculty, Staff, and Planners’ Disclosures

The staff of Physicians’ Education Resource®, LLC, have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities.

Faculty

Steven Nathan, MD
Medical Director, Advanced Lung Disease and Lung Transplant Program
Inova Fairfax Hospital
Falls Church, VA

Disclosures: Consultant: Bellerophon Therapeutics, Boehringer Ingelheim, Galapagos, Roche Genentech, United Therapeutics; Speakers’ Bureau: Boehringer Ingelheim, Roche Genentech

Kristin Highland, MD, MSCR
Director, Rheumatic Lung Disease Program
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, OH

Disclosures: Grant Research Support: Acceleron, Boehringer Ingelheim, Gossamer Bio, Reata, United Therapeutics, Viela Bio; Consultant: Actelion, Boehringer Ingelheim, United Therapeutics; Speakers’ Bureau: Actelion, Bayer, United Therapeutics

Justin Oldham, MD, MS
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Director, Interstitial Lung Disease Program
University of California, Davis
Davis, CA

Disclosures: Grant Research Support: NHLBI K23; Consultant: AmMax Bio, Boehringer Ingelheim, Lupin Research

Joshua Solomon, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine
Autoimmune Lung Center and Interstitial Lung Disease Program
National Jewish Health
Denver, CO

Disclosures: Joshua Solomon, MD, has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

PER^® mitigated all COI for faculty, staff, and planners prior to the start of this activity by using a multistep process.

Off-Label Disclosure and Disclaimer

This activity may or may not discuss investigational, unapproved, or off-label use of drugs. Learners are advised to consult prescribing information for any products discussed. The information provided in this accredited activity is for continuing education purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the independent clinical judgment of a healthcare professional relative to diagnostic, treatment, or management options for a specific patient’s medical condition. The opinions expressed in the content are solely those of the individual faculty members and do not reflect those of PER® or any company that provided commercial support for this activity.