3rd Annual Yale Symposium on Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis and Gadolinium Containing Contrast Agents
In June 2006, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a public health advisory cautioning against the use of gadolinium containing contrast agents (GCCA) in patients with severe renal disease. This advisory cited evidence suggesting an epidemiologic link between GCCA administration and the development of the emerging disease, Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF). NSF, first described in 2000, is a serious systemic disorder characterized by widespread tissue fibrosis. An international NSF registry at Yale University maintains records on over 310 patients with NSF worldwide. Over the past year, new information has emerged that directly impacts the clinical care and magnetic resonance imaging decision-making of patients with kidney disease.
The 3rd Annual Scientific Symposium on Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis and Gadolinium-based Contrast Agents will educate physicians and allied health professionals concerning NSF. The conference faculty will impart further understanding of the link between NSF and GCCA. To achieve this objective, the specific goals of the symposium are to: 1) provide information on the diagnosis and treatment of NSF, 2) review current understanding of the pathophysiology of this disease, 3) present important differences among the various GCCA, 4) discuss the impact on patient care and practice management, and 5) discuss strategies to identify patients with kidney disease who might be at risk. This year, the faculty will include guest speakers from other US and European institutions, thereby greatly enriching the program and addressing global issues related to NSF.
A poster and abstract session will be conducted. The applicable forms are available through the conference website.
Conference Site: http://cme.yale.edu/conferences/conference_index.asp?ID=331