American Transplant Congress (ATC) Summary Monograph

Faculty

Robert S. Gaston, MD
Professor of Medicine in the Division of Nephrology
Professor of Surgery in the Division of Transplantation
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Medical Director of Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation
University of Alabama at Birmingham

William H. Marks, MD, PhD
Robert B. McMillen Chair and Director
Organ Transplantation
Swedish Medical Center

Needs Statement

The trend to minimize the use of calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) and corticosteroids (CSs) has contributed to an increase in the use of antibody induction therapy in kidney and liver transplantation. Significant comorbid conditions associated with historical maintenance immunosuppressive regimens consisting of CNIs and CSs have resulted in a paradigm shift in clinical practice. Identification of immunosuppressive regimens that both reduce long-term immunosuppressive load, and minimize immunosuppressive agent-specific toxicities, such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), new onset diabetes mellitus (NODM), and nephrotoxicity, has been a central focus for transplant clinicians over the past two decades. Additionally, donor characteristics including advanced age, cardiac death, and extended cold ischemia time all put a patient at risk of poor long-term outcomes, and are factors that should be considered when making decisions about immunosuppressive regimens. More liver and kidney transplant recipients are also at high immunological risk, including those that are re-transplanted, sensitized, or African American, and therefore may require alterations to traditional regimens in an attempt to overcome these challenges. Novel approaches to the use of existing antibody induction agents are the current focus of multiple clinical trials in kidney and liver transplantation. This summary of the most up-to-date clinical data regarding antibody induction, as presented at the 2007 American Transplant Congress, is offered to transplant clinicians to help support making critical decisions in this regard for individual patients.

Target Audience

The activity is designed to meet the educational needs of transplant surgeons,
physicians, nurses and pharmacists.

Accreditation

Medicine
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint sponsorship of the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and CTI Clinical Trial & Consulting Services. The University of Kentucky College of Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Each physician should claim only those hours of credit actually spent in the educational activity.

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine presents this activity for educational purposes only. Participants are expected to utilize their own expertise and judgment while engaged in the practice of medicine. The content of the presentations is provided solely by presenters who have been selected for presentations because of recognized expertise in their field.

Pharmacy
The University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy is approved by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. This activity has been assigned ACPE # 022-999-07-133-H04-P and will award 1.20 contact hours (0.12 CEUs) of continuing pharmacy education credit in states that recognize ACPE providers. Statements of credit will indicate hours and CEUs based on successful completion of a posttest (score 70% or higher) and will be issued upon completion of the activity. The college complies with the Criteria for Quality for continuing education programming.

Nursing
Educational Review Systems is an approved provider of continuing education in nursing by ASNA, an accredited provider by the ANCC/Commission on Accreditation and designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.00 hour(s). Provider # 5-115-07-065

Educational Review Systems is also approved for nursing continuing education by the state of California and the District of Columbia.

Faculty Disclosure

Robert S. Gaston, MD has received consultation fees from Novartis, Astellas,
Roche, Pfizer and Genentech. He has received contract research support from
Astellas and Roche Laboratories. Dr. Gaston is a member of a paid speaker’s
bureau with Astellas Pharma, US and Roche Laboratories.

William H. Marks, MD, PhD has no financial relationship with commercial
interest of healthcare products or services that relate to the content of
this CME activity.

Activity Sponsorship