Cutting Edge Rheumatology: ORA’s Annual Winter Meeting
ORA held its Third Annual Winter meeting in Portland this February, hosting several speakers on the cutting-edge of rheumatology.
Dr Muhammad Asim Khan, professor of medicine at Case Western Reserve University and staff rheumatologist at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio, discussed “Dramatic Advances in the Management of Ankylosing Spondylitis and Related Spondyloarthropathies.”
Dr Khan’s research interests focus on clinical genetics and therapeutic aspects of AS, and the role of HLA-B27 and other genes in disease predisposition. Dr Khan discussed the use of TNF-a blockers in AS patients. He also shared his personal experience regarding Ankylosing Spondylitis, a disease he has had to deal with since his symptoms developed at age 12.
Dr John Looney, associate professor of medicine and clinical director of the Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology unit at the University of Rochester School of Medicine shared his cutting-edge research on “B Cells as Therapeutic Targets for Rheumatic Disease.” Dr Looney discussed how, for the first time, the success of rituximab in a well-controlled trial provides evidence that B cell depletion can treat established autoimmune disease.
Drs Peter Bonafede, Paul Hudson, and Bill Maier presented a “thieves market” of interesting clinical cases.
This year’s meeting attracted attendees from several states, including the leaders of growing state rheumatological societies previously attending the National Advocacy meeting.
Special thanks to our Platinum supporters Amgen and Centocor. ORA would also like to thank Abbott, Daiichi, Pfizer, P&G, and Wyeth, whose support made ORA’s 2004 Annual Winter Meeting possible.
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