Advances in Pulmonary Hypertension CME Section
Program Overview
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), an incurable disease, is characterized by medial hypertrophy, intimal fibrosis, and in situ thrombi in small muscular pulmonary arteries PAH was considered a rapidly fatal illness with a median survival of 2.8 years in the 1980s when no proven therapies were available. Since then the treatment of this disease has made tremendous advances, and the last 10 years have seen the discovery of new medications that have positively influenced the prognosis and survival of PAH patients.
This self-study activity is based on three articles that review the latest information on new treatments, combinations of therapies, and data from phase 1 and 2 clinical trials.
This activity is jointly sponsored by the University of Michigan Medical School and the Pulmonary Hypertension Association and supported by an unrestricted education grant from Actelion Pharmaceuticals US, Inc., Encysive Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Gilead Sciences, Inc., Pfizer, Inc., and United Therapeutics Corporation.
Target Audience
This self-study activity is appropriate for cardiologists, pulmonologists, and rheumatologists and other physicians who treat patients with pulmonary hypertension.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this activity participants will be able to:
- Describe the 2007 ACCP consensus guidelines for evidence-based treatment of PAH of WHO class II, III, and IV and be able to apply them to PAH patients.
- Summarize controversial areas in the 2007 ACCP guidelines, and recent PAH clinical trial data that were not included in the guidelines.
- Discuss the rationale and emerging evidence supporting combination therapy for PAH.
- Summarize the nature of ongoing phase 2 and 3 PAH clinical trials.
Self-Assessment Examination
See pages 243 and 244 for self-assessment questions, answer key, and evaluation form.
Faculty
Co-Chair
James Maloney, MD
Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine
University of Colorado Health Sciences Center
Denver, Colorado
Co-Chair
Todd Bull, MD
Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine
University of Colorado Health Sciences Center
Denver, Colorado
Contributing Authors
Iona R. Preston, MD
Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Division
Tufts University School of Medicine
Tufts-New England Medical Center
Boston, Massachusetts
Jeremiah P. Depta, MD
Department of Internal Medicine
The Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, Ohio
Richard A. Krasuski, MD
Division of Cardiovascular Medicine
The Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, Ohio
Zeenat Safdar, MD
Department of Medicine
Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas
Accreditation Statement
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint sponsorship of the University of Michigan Medical School and the Pulmonary Hypertension Association. The University of Michigan is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education to physicians.
Credit Designation
The University of Michigan Medical School designates this activity for a maximum of 2.0 AMA PRA Category 1 credits™. Physicians should claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Instructions for Earning Credit
This activity is a self-study program; a self-assessment examination is included on page 243 to help physicians review important points. A form is also included on page 244 for physicians to evaluate the CME activity. Completion of this activity involves reading the journal and completing the self-assessment examination and evaluation form, which may take up to 2 hours. Credits for this self-study program are available from May 1, 2008 through May 1, 2009. There is no fee for this program.
Please note that this self-study program may also be viewed online at: http://www.cme.med.umich.edu
University of Michigan Privacy Statement
http://www.cme.med.umich.edu/privacy.asp
Sponsorship
This CME self-study program is jointly sponsored by the University of Michigan Medical School and the Pulmonary Hypertension Association.
Support
This CME self-study program is supported by an educational grant from Actelion Pharmaceuticals US, Inc., Encysive Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Gilead Sciences, Inc., Pfizer, Inc., and United Therapeutics Corporation.
Oversite and Accreditation
Arlene Bradford, BA
Assistant Director
Office of CME
University of Michigan Medical School
Disclosures
The Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education and the Association of American Colleges have standards and guidelines to ensure that individuals participating in CME activities are aware of relationships between authors and commercial companies that could potentially affect the information presented. The University of Michigan Medical School follows these national policies to ensure balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor in all its CME activities. Each author was asked to complete a disclosure information form for this activity. Disclosures are reported below.
Todd Bull, MD, receives grant/research support from United Therapeutics.
James Maloney, MD, has no relevant personal financial relationships to disclose.
Zeenat Safdar, MD, serves as a consultant for United Therapeutics, Gilead, Actelion, and Encysive, and is on the Speaker’s Bureau of these companies.
Jeremiah Depta, MD, has no relevant personal financial relationship to disclose.
Richard A. Krasuski, MD, serves as a consultant for Acterlion and is on Speaker’s Bureau of Actelion, Pfizer, and Roche.
Ioana R. Preston, MD, serves as a consultant for and is on the Speaker's Bureau of Actelion, United Therapeutics and Gilead. She also receives grant/research support from Actelion, Pfizer, United Therapeutics, and Gilead.
Arlene Bradford, BA, has no relevant personal financial relationships to disclose.
CME Reviewer
Kevin M. Chan, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
University of Michigan Health Systems
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Dr Chan has no relevant personal financial relationships to disclose.