Expert Perspectives in Hepatology: Contemporary Management Strategies for Hyponatremia in Patients With Advanced Cirrhosis

Activity Description & Educational Objectives

In this activity, experts in hepatology discuss contemporary management strategies for hyponatremia in patients with advanced cirrhosis.

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

• Describe the pathogenesis and underlying mechanisms of hyponatremia associated with cirrhosis
• Identify the symptoms and clinical impact of hyponatremia in the setting of cirrhosis
• Establish the transplant eligibility of a cirrhotic patient who presents with hyponatremia
• Identify and discuss the clinical shortcomings of conventional management strategies for hyponatremia among patients with cirrhosis
• Implement appropriate therapeutic strategies for hyponatremia in patients with advanced cirrhosis

Target Audience

This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of gastroenterologists, hepatologists, nephrologists, gastroenterology nurses, hepatology nurses, nephrology nurses, gastroenterology nurse practitioners, hepatology nurse practitioners, nephrology nurse practitioners, gastroenterology physician assistants, hepatology physician assistants, nephrology physician assistants, health system pharmacists, and other clinicians involved in the management of complications associated with advanced cirrhosis.

Requirements for Successful Completion

In order to receive credit, participants must view the activity and complete the post-test and evaluation form. There are no pre-requisites and there is no fee to participate in this activity or to receive CME/CNE/CPE credit. Statements of Credit are awarded upon successful completion of the post-test and evaluation form.

Media: Internet
Release and Expiration Dates: October 01, 2012 - September 30, 2013
Time to Complete: 30 minutes

Faculty & Disclosure / Conflict of Interest Policy

In accordance with ACCME requirements, Penn State College of Medicine has a conflict of interest policy that requires faculty to disclose relevant financial relationships related to the content of their presentations/materials. Any potential conflicts are resolved so that presentations are evidence-based and scientifically balanced.

Course Director and Moderator

Robert W. Schrier, MD
Professor Emeritus
University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, Colorado

Robert W. Schrier, MD, has a financial interest/relationship or affiliation in the form of:

Consultant for Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.

Interviewee

Pere Ginès, MD, PhD
Professor of Medicine
University of Barcelona
Chief, Liver Unit
Hospital Clinic
Barcelona, Spain

Pere Ginès, MD, PhD, has a financial interest/relationship or affiliation in the form of:

Consultant for Ferring International; Ikaria, Inc.; and sanofi-aventis.

Grant/Research Support from Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

Medical Director

Kathryn B. Charalambous, PhD
PVI, PeerView Institute for Medical Education

Kathryn B. Charalambous, PhD, currently has no financial interests/relationships or affiliations in relation to this activity.

Other PVI staff who may potentially review content for this activity have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

Penn State College of Medicine staff and faculty involved in the development and review of this activity have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

Sponsorship, Credit & Support

Physicians

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint sponsorship of Penn State College of Medicine and PVI, PeerView Institute for Medical Education. Penn State College of Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The Penn State College of Medicine designates this enduring material for a maximum of 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit^TM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Information about CME credit for this activity is available by contacting Penn State at 717-531-6483 or ContinuingEd@hmc.psu.edu. Reference course # G5171-12-T.

Nurses

The Institute for Advancement of Human Behavior is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. This course is co-provided by IAHB and PVI, PeerView Institute for Medical Education. Maximum of 0.5 contact hour(s).

Note: Not all state nursing boards will accept programs less than 1.0 hour in length for credit. Please click here to find out the status of your state.

Pharmacists

Amedco is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.
Participants will earn 0.5 contact hours or 0.05 CEUs for completing the program. Participants must attend the entire program and complete an evaluation form. Statements of Credit will be provided to participants within 4 weeks of the end of the program. UAN(s): UAN: 0453-9999-12-136-H01-P.

This CME/CNE/CPE activity is jointly sponsored by Penn State College of Medicine and PVI, PeerView Institute for Medical Education; the activity is also co-provided by the Institute for Advancement of Human Behavior and Amedco.

This activity is supported by an educational grant from

Disclosure of Unlabeled Use

The faculty of this educational activity may include discussions of products or devices that are not currently labeled for use by the FDA. Faculty members have been advised to disclose to the audience any reference to an unlabeled or investigational use.

No endorsement of unapproved products or uses is made or implied by coverage of these products or uses in our reports. No responsibility is taken for errors or omissions in reports.

Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications and warnings.