Education & Training

 

AGA Education, Practice and Research

Focused Clincial Updates 2006

To receive full CME credit, you are required to complete the evaluation form and self-test for each chapter you complete. Upon completion of the evaluation form and test, a certificate with your name and number of credits you have claimed will be generated. You must print your certificate using the print function in your browser.

The objectives listed below are to be used when evaluating the program. After completing this program, each participant should be able to:

  • Identify how state of the art and emerging research will impact management of digestive conditions.
  • Review diagnostic and treatment options for patients with several digestive diseases.

 

Emerging Therapies for IBD

Select one answer for each question. You may change your answers as many times as you need to until you click the "Submit" button located at the bottom of the test.

1. If one uses step-up therapy (beginning with coriticosteroids progressing ot immunomodulators and infliximab) compared to step-down therapy (induction with infliximab plus 6-MP or azathioprine with steroids after the second course) which of the following is correct?

At 12 months, the clinical remission was superior statistically in the step-down group

The number of patients still on steroids is less using the step-down technique

Mucosal healing (no ulcers) is more likely to occur with step-down therapy

B and C are correct

2. Which of these new biologic therapies have shown success in controlled trials in management of Crohn's disease?

Certolizumab pegol

Adalimumab

Natalizumab

All of the above

3. A novel mesalamine formulation (SPD476) was tested compared to placebo in mild to moderate ulcerative colitis. The results illustrate the following:

Both 2.4 grams per day and 4.8 grams per day were statistically superior to placebo

No serious adverse events were reported

Mildly ill patients faired better than moderately ill patients

The drug works better in left-sided versus extensive disease

4. Reducing the dose of azathioprine or 6-MP and adding allopurinol to the regimen in patients with unresponsive inflammatory bowel disease results in which of the following?

Improvement in liver function abnormalities

Decrease in 6-MMP levels

Increase in 6-TGN levels

All of the above