2025 Update on Vasculitis and Polymyalgia Rheumatica & Vasculitis Ultrasound Workshop
PLEASE NOTE: The Vasculitis Ultrasound Workshop is an optional add-on
A comprehensive update on vasculitis and polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), with an optional hands-on vasculitis ultrasound workshop. Sessions will discuss the diagnosis and treatment of vasculitis and PMR. The course will feature high-yield talks from world-renowned physician-investigators conducting research on vasculitis and related conditions including giant cell arteritis (GCA), PMR, Takayasu’s arteritis (TAK), and ANCA-associated vasculitis (granulomatosis with polyangiitis [GPA], microscopic polyangiitis [MPA] and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis [EGPA]). This course targets the practicing rheumatologist, rheumatology trainee, and allied health professional including nephrologists, pulmonologists, otorhinolaryngologists, neurologists and others interested in learning about important advances in the field of vasculitis and PMR in recent years.
Registration Fees:
Registration Type | Lectures ONLY | Lectures AND Workshop |
Faculty & APPs | $199.00 | $499.00 |
Fellows/Trainees | $99.00 | $349.00 |
Industry | $499.00 | $999.00 |
Target Audience
This activity is intended for Physicians, Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, and other members of the healthcare team.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:
- Become confident in the use of the various imaging modalities available for the diagnosis and longitudinal monitoring of patients with large vessel vasculitis (e.g., vascular ultrasound, advanced vascular imaging [CTA, MRI/MRA, PET]) while understanding strengths, limitations and performance of each modality.
- Employ the ability to create a comprehensive management plan for patients with large vessel vasculitis and PMR including immunomodulation, prevention of treatment-related side-effects, and longitudinal monitoring for disease relapse and disease-related vascular damage.
- Understand the indications of tocilizumab for patients with GCA, recognizing its limitations and current knowledge gaps (e.g., treatment duration) while identifying alternatives for patients failing tocilizumab treatment.
- Understand the role of sarilumab for patients with PMR
- Employ the ability to create a comprehensive management plan for patients with small vessel vasculitis including immunomodulation, prevention of treatment-related side-effects, and longitudinal monitoring for disease relapse and disease-related damage.
- Understand when and how to use avacopan for the treatment of GPA and MPA
- Understand the role of plasma exchange for patients with AAV
- Understand when and how to use IL-5 blockade therapy for patients with EGPA
Hands-On Ultrasound Workshop:
Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:
- Illustrate the role of ultrasound in the diagnosis of GCA.
- Describe the scanning protocol for large vessel vasculitis and review key considerations.
- Assess sonographic findings in vasculitis.
- Demonstrate how fast-track clinics can improve the care for patients with GCA.
- Perform hands-on vasculitis ultrasound training in small groups under expert faculty supervision.
Additional Information
Massachusetts General Hospital & Mass General Brigham
2025 Update on Vasculitis and Polymyalgia RheumaticaFriday, March 28, 2025 | 7:30am - 5:40pm | |
7:30am | Course Registration, Welcome & Breakfast |
8:00 | Imaging of the Cranial Arteries for the Diagnosis of Giant Cell Arteritis (US, MRI and PET) |
8:40 | How to Use Large Artery Imaging for the Management of Patients with Large Vessel Vasculitis | Kaitlin A. Quinn, MD |
9:20 | Q&A Panel: LVV Imaging | |
9:50 | Morning Break |
10:10 | Difficult Vasculitis Cases | Belen Arevalo, MD & Eli Miloslavsky, MD |
11:10 | Current Treatment of Giant Cell Arteritis: IL-6 Blockade and Beyond | John H. Stone, MD, MPH |
11:50 | What is the Role of Biologics and Other Glucocorticoid-Sparing Agents in the Treatment of Polymyalgia Rheumatica | Sebastian Unizony, MD |
12:30pm | Lunch Break |
1:20 | Standard of Care and Future Perspective for Takayasu’s Arteritis | Tanaz A. Kermani, MD |
2:00 | Towards No Glucocorticoid Use for ANCA-Associated Vasculitis: Avacopan and Other Treatments in the Pipeline | Peter Merkel, MD, MPH |
2:40 | To PLEX or not to PLEX? What is the Current Role for Plasma Exchange in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis | Zachary S. Wallace, MD, MSc |
3:10 | Afternoon Break |
3:30 | When and How to Use Eosinophil-targeted Therapies for Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis | Michael Wechsler, MD, MMSc |
4:10 | Not Everything is Immunosuppression in Vasculitis. Adjunctive Treatments (glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis prevention, immunizations, cardiovascular disease prevention) | Naomi Patel, MD, MPH |
4:50 | Panel: Vasculitis Treatment Q&A | |
5:30 | Conclusion Remarks |
5:40pm | Adjourn |
*Please Note: Agendas Are Subject To Change
Vascular Ultrasound WorkshopSaturday, March 29, 2025 | 7:30am - 11:30am | |
7:30am | Welcome and Introduction to Vasculitis Ultrasound | Mark A. Matza, MD, MBA, RhMSUS & Minna J. Kohler, MD, RhMSUS |
7:35 | Basics of Vasculitis Ultrasound: Machine & Doppler Settings, and Protocol | Mark A. Matza, MD, MBA, RhMSUS |
8:05 | Live Demonstration: Temporal and Axillary Artery | Mark A. Matza, MD, MBA, RhMSUS |
8:15 | Hands on Vasculitis Ultrasound Scanning: Temporal Arteries | |
9:15 | Morning Break |
9:30 | Pitfalls, Tips, and Tricks in Vasculitis Ultrasound | Mark A. Matza, MD, MBA, RhMSUS & Minna J. Kohler, MD, RhMSUS |
9:45 | Clinical Cases in Vasculitis Ultrasound | Mark A Matza, MD, MBA, RhMSUS |
10:00 | Hands on Vasculitis Ultrasound Scanning: Axillary and Temporal Arteries | |
11:30am | Adjournment of Vascular Ultrasound Workshop |
*Please Note: Agendas Are Subject To Change
Course Directors
Mark A. Matza, MD, MBA, RhMSUS
Clinical Director, Rheumatology,
Massachusetts General Hospital;
Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Sebastian H. Unizony, MD
Co-Director, Rheumatology Vasculitis Program,
Massachusetts General Hospital;
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Zachary S. Wallace, MD, MSc
Co-Director, Rheumatology Vasculitis Program,
Massachusetts General Hospital;
Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Minna J. Kohler, MD, RhMSUS (Vasculitis Ultrasound Workshop Co-Director)
Director, Rheumatology Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Program,
Massachusetts General Hospital;
Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Faculty
Belen Arevalo, MD
Rheumatology,
Massachusetts General Hospital;
Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Tanaz A. Kermani, MD
Rheumatology,
Santa Monica Rheumatology,
UCLA Health;
Founder and Director, Multi-Disciplinary Vasculitis Program, UCLA
Eli Miloslavsky, MD
Co-Director, Vasculitis and Glomerulonephritis Center,
Massachusetts General Hospital;
Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Peter Merkel, MD, MPH
Chief, Division of Rheumatology
Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology,
University of Pennsylvania
Naomi Patel, MD, MPH
Rheumatology,
Massachusetts General Hospital;
Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Kaitlin A. Quinn, MD
Staff Clinician,
Vasculitis Translational Research Program,
Associate Director, Rheumatology Fellowship Training Program,
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
John H. Stone, MD, MPH
Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School,
The Edward A. Fox Chair in Medicine,
Massachusetts General Hospital;
Executive Chairman, The IgG4ward! Foundation
Michael Wechsler, MD, MMSc
Professor of Medicine,
Associate Vice President, Innovation & Industry Relations,
Director, NJH Cohen Family Asthma Institute,
Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health
Instructors
Hamid Shokoohi, MD, MPH
Director, Emergency Ultrasound Fellowship,
Director, Emergency Ultrasound Research,
Massachusetts General Hospital;
Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine,
Harvard Medical School
Myma Albayda, MD, MPH
Associate Professor of Medicine,
Director, Rheumatology Fellowship Program,
Director, Musculoskeletal Ultrasound and Injection Clinic,
Johns Hopkins University
In support of improving patient care, Mass General Brigham 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.
Credit Designation Statements
AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM
Mass General Brigham designates this live activity for a maximum of 12 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Available Credit
- 12.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
- 12.00 Participation
Price
Registration Type | Lectures ONLY | Lectures AND Workshop |
Faculty & APPs | $199.00 | $499.00 |
Fellows/Trainees | $99.00 | $349.00 |
Industry | $499.00 | $999.00 |
Cancellation Policy:
Registrations cancelled on or before March 14, 2025 will be refunded, less a $40 administrative fee. Registrations cancelled after March 14, 2025 will not be refunded.
Contact mgbcpd@mgb.org if you require assistance in cancelling your online registration.