Autoimmune Diseases

Course Overview
This course provides an overview of the current understanding of the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases and to present evidence-based approaches to the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up for five autoimmune diseases. The five conditions discussed here represent a range of autoimmune diseases, including autoimmune thyroiditis, the most prevalent autoimmune disease; rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus, and Sjögren syndrome, the leading rheumatic autoimmune diseases; and celiac disease, an autoimmune disease of the gut with an increasing prevalence. The discussion of diagnosing each of the five conditions emphasizes differentiating characteristics of each disease and the need to evaluate patients for signs of other autoimmune diseases that are frequently found concurrently. Throughout, evidence-based approaches are described, when available, and patient education is highlighted, as self-management is an essential component in the treatment of a chronic disorder.

Learning Outcomes
Upon the completion of this course, the learner should be able to:

• Describe the impact and pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases in the United States.
• Recognize genetic and potential environmental risk factors for autoimmune diseases.
• Evaluate the general characteristics and differential diagnosis of autoimmune diseases, anticipating the difficulties inherent in reaching a conclusive diagnosis.
• Identify approaches to the management of autoimmune diseases, with special attention to considerations for patients with limited English proficiency and/or health literacy.
• Analyze the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and diagnostic criteria of autoimmune thyroiditis.
• Select the appropriate treatment for Hashimoto disease and Graves disease in various patient populations.
• Appropriately identify and diagnose rheumatoid arthritis according to established diagnostic criteria and clinical manifestations.
• Outline the recommended treatment of rheumatoid arthritis using pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions.
• Discuss the importance of follow-up and patient education in the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
• Evaluate the impact and diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (systemic lupus), including indications for appropriate referral.
• Select available treatments for systemic lupus, including considerations for follow-up and prognosis.
• Apply consensus diagnostic criteria for identifying and treating Sjögren syndrome.
• Recognize and evaluate the clinical manifestations of celiac disease
• Describe the components necessary to diagnose and treat celiac disease.

About the Author/Presenter
John M. Leonard, MD,, Professor of Medicine Emeritus, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, completed his post-graduate clinical training at the Yale and Vanderbilt University Medical Centers before joining the Vanderbilt faculty in 1974. He is a clinician-educator and for many years served as director of residency training and student educational programs for the Vanderbilt University Department of Medicine. Over a career span of 40 years, Dr. Leonard conducted an active practice of general internal medicine and an inpatient consulting practice of infectious diseases.

Audience/Accreditations and Approvals
TRC Healthcare/ NetCE
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by TRC Healthcare/ NetCE. TRC Healthcare/NetCE is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

This course is designed for the following healthcare professions (select your profession for details): 
Nursing, Physician

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