Chronic hepatitis C afflicts 170 million individuals worldwide and is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. We discuss the various modes of acquisition of hepatitis C. Although cirrhosis and its attendant complications including primary hepatocellular cardinoma are the major causes of morbidity and mortality, patients with chronic hepatitis C may also exhibit protean extrahepatic manifestations. On occasion, these dominate the clinical picture and account for serious morbidity and even mortality. Treatment options and definitions of types of responses are clearly delineated.

NUMBER OF CREDIT HOURS: The Harvard Medical School designates this educational activity for a maximum of 2 AMA PRA Category 1 credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

COST: $40.00
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OVERALL LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

1. Quantify the risks of infections transmissible by blood transfusions.
2. Appreciate risk factors for transmission of hepatitis C amongst close contacts of infected patients.
3. Understand recommendations for screening of hepatitis C amongst newborns of mothers with chronic hepatitis C infection.
4. Appreciate the different pathological scoring systems for chronic hepatitis C.
5. Learn about the major extra hepatic manifestations of chronic hepatitis C.
6. Implement the guidelines for vaccination in those infected with chronic hepatitis C.
7. Predict treatment response for patients with chronic hepatitis C.
8. Understand the different treatment response categories (Non-response, end of treatment response and sustained virologic response).

CLINICAL LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

1. Improve care of patients with hepatitis C
2. Improve treatment decisions regarding hepatitis C
3. Enhance management of extra-hepatic manifestations of disease

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SANJIV CHOPRA, MD Course Director

Dr. Sanjiv Chopra is Professor of Medicine and Faculty Dean for Continuing Medical Education at Harvard Medical School. He is Director, Clinical Hepatology at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. Chopra has approximately 100 publications. He has four books to his credit: Disorders of the Liver, which has been translated into Japanese and Italian, Pathophysiology of Gastrointestinal Diseases, Gastroenterology: Problems in Primary Care, and Dr. Sanjiv Chopra's Liver Book. Dr. Chopra is an Editor-in-Chief of UpToDate in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, an outstanding and innovative clinical reference on CD-ROM. Dr. Chopra was the recipient of the George W. Thorn Award, presented by the Brigham and Women's Hospital Housestaff, Harvard Medical School, in 1985 for his outstanding contribution to clinical education. In 1991 he received the highest accolade from the 1991 graduating class of Harvard Medical School, The Excellence in Teaching Award. The citation read: "Outstanding clinician, devoted teacher and mentor. We thank you for your dedication to excellence in teaching. -Harvard Medical School. Class of 1991." In 1995 Dr. Chopra was the recipient of the Robert S. Stone Award, a prestigious award given to a faculty member who is an outstanding clinician and teacher and is chosen by colleagues, housestaff and students from the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. In 1999 Boston Magazine listed Dr. Chopra as one of the finest doctors in his specialty. In 2003 he was honored by being the recipient of the AGA Distinguished Educator Award. Dr. Chopra is widely acclaimed as a superb educator. He is a most sought after speaker and has addressed medical audiences throughout the United States and in several countries abroad. DISCLOSURE: Scherring-Plough: Speakers' bureau Roche: Speakers' bureau UpToDate: Royalty income

BARRY KELLEHER, MD Course Director

Dr. Kelleher is an Instructor in Medicine at Harvard Medical School and is a Staff Hepatologist at Boston's Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. DISCLOSURE:

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JULES L. DIENSTAG, MD Reviewer

Bio and Photo Coming Soon. DISCLOSURE:

GRACE HUANG, MD Reviewer

Grace Huang, MD, is the Director of the Office of Educational Technology at the Carl J. Shapiro Institute for Education and Research, a joint venture between HMS and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) in Boston. She also works as a hospitalist at BIDMC. She has spent a number of years designing web-based modules on clinical skills, including computer-based case simulations (“virtual patients”), physical diagnosis tutorials, interactive pathophysiology diagrams, and procedure-based instruction. She serves as a consultant to the Association of American Medical Colleges in their initiative to promote scholarship and sharing of educational materials through MedEdPORTAL. Her clinical research interest is in the impact of a formal hospital-based procedure service on complication rates among internal medicine residents. DISCLOSURE: Dr. Huang's spouse works at Pfizer, Inc., and she holds stock options and shares in the same company.

SANGIK OH, MD Reviewer

Dr. Oh completed his gastroenterology fellowship at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. During his gastroenterology fellowship, Dr. Oh earned his Masters degree in Medical Science from Harvard Medical School. He was the recipient of 2002 AASLD/Schering Advanced Hepatology Fellowship Award. Upon completion of his fellowship, he joined the faculty at Harvard Medical School as an Instructor of Medicine and as a staff physician at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. He also served as the fellowship director of hepatology program at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. In 2005, he joined Tacoma Digestive Disease Center, a private GI group in Washington state. DISCLOSURE:

PETER J. ZUROMSKIS, MD Reviewer

Dr. Zuromskis clinical practice in general internal medicine is based in Lexington Center, where he sees 3500 to 4000 patients annually. His focus is on academic quality medicine, and for 2-4 of his sessions weekly, he has resident working under his direction. He maintains an active role in in-patient care. He has served as a member of the Harvard Medical School Admissions Committee, and remains a senior fellow of the Holmes Society where he serves as a designated mentor to 2-3 students. His public health activites involve availability for consultation on matters of nuclear-biologic-chemical warfare/terrorism as a reserve Captain in the US Naval Reserve. He regularly serves as a consultant to Risk Management Foundation as a case reviewer and defense witness. DISCLOSURE: No Disclosures

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NUMBER OF CREDITS: 2 

Harvard Medical School is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The Harvard Medical School designates this educational activity for a maximum of 2 AMA PRA Category 1 credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Upon completion of the course you will get a certificate via e-mail within 2 weeks.

Click the image to view a sample of the certificate

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