Accreditation/Credit Designation

Physicians’ Education Resource®, LLC, is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Physicians’ Education Resource®, LLC, designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Acknowledgment of Commercial Support

This activity is supported by educational grants from Janssen Biotech, Inc., administered by Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation; and Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Medical Crossfire^®: Bridging The Gap Between Diagnosis and Treatment in Hemolytic Anemias

Release Date: December 23, 2021
Expiration Date: December 23, 2022

Activity Overview

Hemolytic anemia is defined as anemia due to shortened survival of red blood cells, high levels of lactate dehydrogenase, low levels of haptoglobins and absence of other causes of anemia. In this program, four expert hematologists will review the following causes of hemolytic anemia:

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA), a heterogeneous condition that can be defined as either warm antibody or cold antibody hemolytic anemia. AIHAs are characterized by hemolysis that results from the accumulation of autoantibodies on red blood cells.
Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), an acquired disorder of the pluripotent hematopoietic stem cell. This disease is characterized by the presence of hemolytic anemia, thrombosis, and impaired bone marrow function, a series of non-specific manifestations that may be caused by a variety of disorders
Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS), a consequence of dysregulated complement activity, leading to the development of thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) and significant organ damage.
Pyruvate kinase deficiency (PKD), an autosomal recessive anemia caused by defects in the PK enzyme. The loss of PK reduces the lifespan of red blood cells, resulting in hemolytic anemia.

The format of this Medical Crossfire program includes expert discussion, reviewing recent clinical trial data, discussion of diagnostic and treatment algorithms and analysis of emerging agents.

Acknowledgement of Commercial Support

This activity is supported by educational grants from Janssen Biotech, Inc., administered by Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation; and Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Instructions for This Activity and Receiving Credit

Complete the activity (including pre- and post-activity assessments).
Answer the evaluation questions.
Request credit using the drop-down menu.

You may immediately download your certificate.

Target Audience

This educational program is directed toward medical oncologists, hematologists, and pathologists. Fellows, researchers, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other healthcare professionals interested in the treatment of patients with anemias are also invited to attend.

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this activity, you should be better prepared to:

Explain the pathophysiological mechanisms of the hemolytic anemias PNH, aHUS, PKD, and wAIHA
Describe current diagnostic criteria for PNH, aHUS, PKD, and wAIHA, with a focus on differential diagnosis methods
Evaluate efficacy/safety results of current and emerging therapeutic options for PNH, aHUS, PKD, and wAIHA
Apply evidence from landmark trials evaluating therapeutic options for PNH, aHUS, PKD, and wAIHA, to real-world clinical scenarios of patients with these diseases, including treatment-related toxicity management

Faculty, Staff, and Planners’ Disclosures

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

Chair

David J. Kuter, MD, DPhil
Professor, Medicine
Harvard Medical School
Hematology Program Director
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, MA

Disclosures: Grant/Research Support: Agios, Alnylam, Argenx, Biocryst, Incyte, Immunovant, Kezar, Principia, Takeda (Bioverativ), UCB; Consultant: Alexion, Agios, Alnylam, Amgen, Argenx, BioCryst, Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS), Caremark, CRICO, Daiichi Sankyo, Dova, Genzyme, Immunovant, Incyte, Kyowa-Kirin, Merck Sharp Dohme, Momenta, Novartis, Pfizer, Platelet Disorder Support Association, Principia, Rigel, Sanofi Genzyme, Shionogi, Takeda (Bioverativ), UCB, Up-To-Date, Zafgen; Stock/Shareholder: Rubius.

Faculty

Hanny Al-Samkari, MD
Classical Hematologist and Clinical Investigator
Division of Hematology Oncology
Massachusetts General Hospital
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Harvard Medical School
Boston, MA

Disclosures: Grant/Research Support: Agios Pharmaceuticals, Dova/Sobi, Amgen; Consultant: Agios Pharmaceuticals, Dova/Sobi, Argenx, Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Moderna Therapeutics, Novartis Pharmaceuticals.

Spero Cataland, MD
Professor of Internal Medicine
Division of Hematology
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
Columbus, OH

Disclosures: Grant/Research Support: Sanofi Genzyme; Consultant: Sanofi Genzyme, Takeda, Alexion Pharmaceuticals.

Ilene Weitz, MD
Professor of Clinical Medicine
Jane Anne Nohl Division of Hematology
Keck-USC School of Medicine
Los Angeles, CA

Disclosures: Consultant: Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Apellis Pharmaceuticals; Speakers Bureau: Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Apellis Pharmaceuticals.

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 health care 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.