• CME

  • Familial Hypercholesterolemia: Current Dilemmas and Emerging Solutions in Screening and Treatment

    Earn CME Credit »
  • Author(s)/Faculty: W. Virgil Brown, MD; William C. Cromwell, MD, FAHA, FNLA; Erik S.G. Stroes, MD, PhD; Peter P. Toth, MD, PhD, FAAFP, FNLA, FAHA, FCCP, FACC
    Source: Healio Cardiology - Cardiology Today Education Lab
    Type: Monograph Articles/Items: 6
    Release Date: 2/28/2012 Expiration Date: 2/28/2013
    Credit Type: CME Number of Credit(s): 1.25
    Cost: Free Provider: Vindico Medical Education

  • Familial Hypercholesterolemia represents a group of genetic defects that result in severely elevated blood cholesterol levels, significantly increasing the risk of premature coronary heart disease. Familial hypercholesterolemia is one of the most widely prevalent genetic diseases and is also one of the most commonly occurring metabolic disorders that can be identified in childhood. More than 600,000 people in the United States are affected. Limited response to statin-based lipid lowering therapy has required research into novel therapeutic approaches to reduce risk of cardiovascular events. Clinicians should consider this condition when treating patients with abnormally high cholesterol counts, as well as discuss the potential risks for other family members, and should stay informed on emerging treatment options.

Sponsorship Statement: This continuing medical education activity is jointly sponsored by and CT_logosm_EduLabs.gif

Support Statement: This activity is supported by an educational grant from Genzyme.jpg

Target Audience: The intended audience for this activity is cardiologists and other healthcare professionals involved in the treatment of patients with dyslipidemia.

Learning Objectives: Upon successful completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

  1. Describe the epidemiology, prevalence, pathophysiology, and genetic basis of familial hypercholesterolemia and its significant contribution to atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease.
  2. Screen pediatric and adult patients for elevated total cholesterol, lipoprotein (a) and LDL cholesterol levels and perform a thorough family history to risk stratify patients for cardiovascular disease.
  3. Implement a comprehensive approach to lipid management that incorporates therapeutic interventions that target the various mechanisms that cause hypercholesterolemia.
  4. Evaluate evidence-based medicine on combinations of lipid-modifying regimens that target multiple lipid risk factors, including lipoprotein (a), apolipoprotein (apo) B, and total LDL particle number.
  5. Assess the role of apolipoprotein B and lipoprotein (a) in patients with severe familial hypercholesterolemia.

Course Chair:
W. Virgil Brown, MD
Charles Howard Candler Professor Emeritus
Emory University School of Medicine
Atlanta, Georgia

Faculty:
William C. Cromwell, MD, FAHA, FNLA
Chief, Lipoprotein and Metabolic Disorders Institute
Adjunct Associate Professor
Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Diplomate, American Board of Clinical Lipidology
Raleigh, North Carolina

Erik S.G. Stroes, MD, PhD
Professor of Vascular Medicine
Head of the Department Vascular Medicine
Academic Medical Center (AMC)
Amsterdam, Netherlands

Peter P. Toth, MD, PhD, FAAFP, FNLA, FAHA, FCCP, FACC
Director of Preventive Cardiology
Sterling Rock Falls Clinic, Ltd.
Clinical Professor
University of Illinois School of Medicine
Chicago, Illinois

External Reviewer:
Michael H. Davidson, MD, FACC, FACP, FNLA

Medical Writer:
Steve Pridgeon

Accreditation:
This educational 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 Vindico Medical Education and CARDIOLOGY TODAY®. Vindico Medical Education is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation:
Vindico Medical Education designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)TM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

This enduring material is approved for 1 year from the date of original release, February 28, 2012 to February 28, 2013.

How To Participate in this Activity and Obtain CME Credit:
To participate in this CME activity, you must read the objectives, answer the pretest questions, read the articles, complete the posttest, and complete the evaluation. Provide only one (1) correct answer for each question. A satisfactory score is defined as answering 70% of the posttest questions correctly. Upon receipt of the completed materials, if a satisfactory score on the posttest is achieved, Vindico Medical Education will issue an AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)TM certificate.

Disclosures:
In accordance with the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education’s Standards for Commercial Support, all CME providers are required to disclose to the activity audience the relevant financial relationships of the planners, teachers, and authors involved in the development of CME content. An individual has a relevant financial relationship if he or she has a financial relationship in any amount occurring in the last 12 months with a commercial interest whose products or services are discussed in the CME activity content over which the individual has control.

The authors disclose that they do have significant financial interests in any products or class of products discussed directly or indirectly in this activity, including research support.

Planning Committee and Faculty members report the following relationship(s):
W. Virgil Brown, MD
Consulting Fees: Abbott, Amgen, Anthera, Atherotech, BMS, Cerenis, Genzyme, Pfizer, Liposcience, Merck, Regeneron
Fees for Non-CME Services: Liposcience, Merck

William C. Cromwell, MD
Consulting Fees: Genzyme, Health Diagnostics Laboratory, Isis, Labcorp
Fees for Non-CME Services: Abbott, Kowa, Liposcience, Merck

Erik S.G. Stroes, MD. PhD
Consulting Fees: Genzyme, ISIS, Santaris, BMS, Enceladus Pharmaceuticals, CSL-Behring Inc, Novartis

Peter P. Toth, MD, PhD, FAAFP, FNLA, FAHA, FCCP, FACC
Consulting Fees: Abbott, AstraZeneca, Atherotek, Genentech, Kowa, Merck
Fees for Non-CME Services: Abbott, AstraZeneca, Boehringer-Ingelheim, GlaxoSmithKline, Kowa, Merck, Takeda

External Reviewer reports the following relationship(s):
Michael H. Davidson, MD, FACC, FACP, FNLA
Speakers’ Bureau: Abbott, AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck
Advisory Board/Consultant: Abbott, Aegerion,Amgen, AstraZeneca, Atherotech, Daiichi-Sankyo, DTC MD, Esperion, GlaxoSmithKline, iMD (Intelligent Medical Decisions), Kinemed, LipoScience, Merck, NovoNordisk, Roche, sanofi-aventis, Synarc, Takeda, Vindico Medical Education
Grant/Research: Abbott, Daiichi-Sankyo, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Roche
Board of Directors: DTC MD, Omthera, Professioal Evaluation, Inc. Medical Education Company, Sonogene

Medical Writer reports the following relationships:
Steve Pridgeon
No relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Vindico Medical Education and CARDIOLOGY TODAY® staff report the following relationship(s):
No relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Signed disclosures are on file at Vindico Medical Education, Office of Medical Affairs and Compliance.

Unlabeled and Investigational Usage:
The audience is advised that this continuing medical education activity may contain references to unlabeled uses of FDA-approved products or to products not approved by the FDA for use in the United States. The faculty members have been made aware of their obligation to disclose such usage. All activity participants will be informed if any speakers/authors intend to discuss either non-FDA approved or investigational use of products/devices.

Copyright Statement:
Created and published by Vindico Medical Education, 6900 Grove Road, Building 100, Thorofare, NJ 08086-9447. Telephone: 856-848-1000; Fax: 856-848-6091. Printed in the USA. Copyright © 2012 SLACK Incorporated®. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The material presented at or in any of Vindico Medical Education and CARDIOLOGY TODAY® continuing medical education activities does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Vindico Medical Education and CARDIOLOGY TODAY®. Neither Vindico Medical Education, CARDIOLOGY TODAY®, nor the faculty endorse or recommend any techniques, commercial products, or manufacturers. The faculty/authors may discuss the use of materials and/or products that have not yet been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. All readers and continuing education participants should verify all information before treating patients or utilizing any product.