Thursday, April 8, 2010
7:30-9:00 PM
Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth Hotel
Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Iron overload is a disorder characterized by the accumulation of excess iron in bodily tissues. It can be caused by hemochromatosis or may be a complication of frequent, regular blood transfusions used to treat severe anemia in patients with sickle cell disease, thalassemia, and other hematologic malignancies. If left untreated, iron accumulation in organs such as the liver, heart, and pancreas can cause organ failure and early death. Identifying a therapeutic strategy that is safely compatible with coexisting medical conditions and provides effective management of iron burden is an important aspect of treatment for iron overload, as it may be necessary to initiate therapy in patients as young as 2 years of age. One strategy that can be used to decrease and manage body iron levels in pediatric patients is iron chelation therapy. Ongoing development of new agents for iron chelation therapy and techniques for the detection of body iron stores is continuing to increase survival and improve quality of life for pediatric patients experiencing iron overload. At the end of this activity, participants will be able to describe the etiology, risk factors, and consequences of iron overload, evaluate the safety and efficacy of iron chelation therapy, and summarize the efficacies of available techniques for monitoring iron overload in pediatric patients.

This activity is intended for hematologists, medical oncologists, physician assistants, and other healthcare professionals interested in the treatment of pediatric patients with hematologic conditions.

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to

1. Describe the etiology, risk factors, and consequences of iron overload.  
2. Evaluate the safety and efficacy of iron chelating agents for the treatment of pediatric patients with iron overload.  
3. Compare the efficacies of available techniques for monitoring body iron levels.

This satellite symposium will use multiple methods of participation, including lectures, case presentations, and panel discussions, to engage attendees and enhance the learning process. The CBCE™ (The Center for Biomedical Continuing Education) will integrate the handheld Audience Response System (ARS). 

Physicians: The CBCE™ (The Center for Biomedical Continuing Education) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The CBCE designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in this activity.

Physician Assistants: AAPA accepts certificates of participation for educational activities certified for Category 1 credit from AOACCME, Prescribed credit from AAFP, and AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ from organizations accredited by ACCME or a recognized state medical society. Physician assistants may receive a maximum of 1.50 hours of Category 1 credit for completing this program.

The Evaluation and Request for Credit Form must be completed and returned to the CBCE following this activity to obtain credit. Participants will receive their certificate 4-6 weeks after the CBCE receives their form.

The CBCE gratefully acknowledges the educational grant provided by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.

The CBCE fully complies with the legal requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the rules and regulations thereof. If any participant in this educational activity is in need of support services, please notify the CBCE staff at the symposium registration desk.

For further information, please contact the CBCE, 1707 Market Place Blvd., Suite 370, Irving, TX 75063; Phone: (214) 260-9024; Fax: (214) 260-0509; E-mail: info@thecbce.com.

The content and views presented in this educational activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or recommendations of the CBCE or Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. This material has been prepared based on a review of multiple sources of information but is not comprehensive. Participants are advised to critically appraise the information presented, and they are encouraged to consult the available literature on any product or device mentioned in this program.

This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. For additional information about approved uses, including approved indications, contraindications, and warnings, please refer to the prescribing information for each product or consult the latest edition of the Physicians’ Desk Reference.

As a provider accredited by the ACCME, it is the policy of the CBCE to require that everyone who is in a position to control the content of an educational activity disclose all relevant financial relationships with any commercial interest, and identify and resolve all conflicts of interest prior to the educational activity. The CBCE defines “relevant financial relationships” as any amount occurring within the past 12 months.

Financial relationships are those relationships in which the individual benefits by receiving a salary, royalty, intellectual property rights, consulting fee, honorarium, ownership interest (eg, stocks, stock options, or other ownership interest, excluding diversified mutual funds), or other financial benefit. Financial benefits are usually associated with roles such as employment, management, independent contractor (including contracted research), consulting, speaking and teaching, membership on advisory committees or review panels, board membership, and other activities for which remuneration is received or expected. The CBCE considers relationships of the person involved in the educational activity to include financial relationships of a spouse or partner.

Faculty who refuse to disclose relevant financial relationships will be disqualified from being a planning committee member, a teacher, or an author, and cannot have control of or responsibility for the development, management, presentation, or evaluation of the educational activity. For an individual with no relevant financial relationship, participants must be informed that no relevant financial relationship exists.

The CBCE assesses conflicts of interest with its faculty, planners, and managers of CBCE activities. Identified conflicts of interest are thoroughly evaluated for fair balance, scientific objectivity relative to studies utilized in this activity, and patient-care recommendations. The CBCE is committed to providing participants with high-quality, unbiased, and state-of-the-art education.

The following faculty have reported real or apparent conflicts of interest, and these conflicts have been resolved through a peer-review process:

John B. Porter, MA, MD, FRCP, FRCPath
Consultant
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation

Elliott Vichinsky, MD
Grant/Research Support
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
Honoraria
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation

John C. Wood, MD, PhD
Grant/Research Support
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation

The following faculty has declared they have no financial relationships that require disclosure:

Nancy F. Olivieri, MD, FRCPC,

The CBCE receives educational grants from the pharmaceutical industry and other commercial sources. Companies providing grants to the CBCE include the commercial supporter of this activity as well as the manufacturers of certain drugs and/or devices discussed in this activity.

The CBCE staff have declared they have no financial relationships that require disclosure.