Release and Expiration Dates

RELEASE DATE: November 15, 2012
EXPIRATION DATE: November 15, 2013

Activity Overview

Elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is an increasingly common finding in all modern economies, resulting in atherosclerosis, ischemic vascular disease, and cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death worldwide.  Most elevated LDL cholesterol is the result of poor lifestyle choices; less well-known is the subset of patients whose elevated LDL is the result of genetic inheritance.  The less severe form of this condition, heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), occurs in approximately 1 per 500 persons worldwide; the severe form (inheritance from both parents, homozygous FH) occurs in about 1 person per 1 million.  This open-access, journal indexed Web-based CME/CE activity in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology, the official journal of the National Lipid Association, is based on a special session presented at the NLA2012 scientific sessions, held in Scottsdale, Arizona, in May 2012.  For all clinicians who diagnose and treat patients with elevated LDL, this activity is designed to update and discuss current knowledge, practice gaps, and challenges in the identification and management of patients with severe FH. 

Target Audience

This Journal CME Activity is intended is designed for a broader audience of healthcare professionals including lipidologists, cardiologists, endocrinologists, internists, primary care physicians, pharmacists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, registered nurses, and registered dietitians.

Fee Information

There are no fees associated with this activity.

Educational Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:

• Describe the pathophysiology of severe familial hypercholesterolemia including the role of apolipoprotein B and lipoprotein(a) in lipid homeostasis.
• Implement diagnostic strategies in pediatric and adult patients to appropriately risk stratify patients for genetic lipid disorders.
•  Utilize current treatment recommendations for improving the outcomes of patients with severe FH to reduce their elevated risk of CHD.
• Track patient outcomes data to improve clinical research and decision-making that will improve identification of patients at risk for FH.

At the conclusion of this activity, participants should be able to provide appropriate care and counsel for patients and their families.

Criteria for Success

Statements of credit will be awarded based on the participant’s successful completion of the post-test with a score of 70% or better and the activity evaluation form. For Pharmacists: Upon successfully completing the post-test with a score of 70% or better and the activity evaluation form, transcript information will be available at www.mycpemonitor.net within 4 weeks. If you have questions about this CME/CE activity, please contact the NLA at cme@lipid.org. Please claim credit by November 15, 2013.

Commercial Support

This session is supported by an educational grant from Genzyme, a Sanofi Company.

CME Accreditation

CME credit provided by the National Lipid Association

Physicians

The National Lipid Association is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education. The National Lipid Association designates this enduring internet activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Physician Assistants

NCCPA accepts AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ from organizations accredited by ACCME.

Pharmacists

Nursing

This educational activity for 1.0 contact hours is provided by Postgraduate Institute for Medicine.

Postgraduate Institute for Medicine is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

Dietitians

This program has been approved by the Commission on Dietetic Registration for ­­1.0 CPEUs.

Agenda

Pathophysiology of Severe Familial Hypercholesterolemia
Mary P. McGowan, MD, FNLA
Assistant Professor of Medicine
University of Massachusetts Medical Center
Bedford, NH

Strategies for Early Detection: The Role of Genetic Testing in Patients with Severe Hypercholesterolemia
Daniel J. Rader, MD, FNLA
Professor of Medicine
Division Chief of Translational Medicine and Human Genetics
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA

Therapeutic Strategies for Optimizing Outcomes in the Severe FH Patient 
James A. Underberg, MD, MS, FNLA
Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, NYU Medical School
NYU Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention
Director, Bellevue Hospital Lipid Clinic
New York, NY

Faculty

	Mary P. McGowan, MD, FNLA Assistant Professor of Medicine University of Massachusetts Medical Center Bedford, NH
	Daniel J. Rader, MD, FNLA Professor of Medicine Division Chief of Translational Medicine and Human Genetics University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA
	James A. Underberg, MD, MS, FNLA Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, NYU Medical School NYU Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Director, Bellevue Hospital Lipid Clinic New York, NY

Presenting Faculty Disclosures

Disclosure of Unlabeled Use and Investigational Product

This educational activity may include discussion of uses of agents that are investigational and/or unapproved by the FDA. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.

Disclosure Declaration

It is the policy of NLA and PIM to ensure independence, balance, objectivity, scientific rigor, and integrity in all of its continuing education activities. The faculty must disclose to the participants any significant relationships with commercial interests whose products or devices may be mentioned in the activity or with the commercial supporter of this continuing education activity. Identified conflict of interest is resolved by NLA and PIM prior to accreditation of the activity. NLA and PIM planners and reviewers have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Disclaimer

This course is designed solely to provide the healthcare professional with information to assist in his/her practice and professional development and should not replace professional advice or treatment. The course serves as a general guide to the healthcare professional, and therefore, cannot be considered as giving legal, nursing, medical, or other professional advice in specific cases. NLA, PIM, the author(s) and the publisher specifically disclaim responsibility for any adverse consequences resulting directly or indirectly from information in the course, for undetected error, or through reader's misunderstanding of the content.

Copyright Statement

Copyright © 2012.   The program elements and materials developed are the copyright and property of the National Lipid Association.

Policy on Privacy and Confidentiality

As a technology provider, Dane Garvin, Ltd. (DGL) protects the privacy of personal and other information regarding participants, educational accreditation partners, and joint sponsors. DGL will not release personally identifiable information to a third party without the individual's consent, except such information as is required for reporting purposes to the appropriate accrediting agency.

Dane Garvin, Ltd. maintains physical, electronic and procedural safeguards that comply with federal regulations to guard your nonpublic personal information.

System Requirements

To view this educational activity you will need a web browser with Javascript and either Flash or HTML5 enabled.  Nearly all modern web browsers will work.