CME Information Advances in Pulmonary Hypertension

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 evidence-based therapies were available. Since then the treatment of this disease has made tremendous advances, and in the last 10 years the discovery of new medications have positively influenced the prognosis and survival of patients with PAH.

This self-study activity is based on 3 articles that review the management of pulmonary hypertension in children.

This activity is jointly sponsored by the University of Michigan Medical School and the Pulmonary Hypertension Association.

Target Audience

This self-study activity is appropriate for cardiologists, pulmonologists, rheumatologists, and other physicians who treat patients with PH.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

1. Describe the recent advancements in the management of idiopathic and heritable pulmonary hypertension in children

2. Understand the pathophysiology and outcomes of infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia and identify the relative risks and benefits of current therapeutic strategies

3. Discuss the pediatric use of approved therapies for pulmonary hypertension

Self-Assessment Examination

See pages 115 and 116 for self-assessment questions, answer key, and evaluation form.

Faculty

Chair
Erika Berman Rosenzweig, MD
Director, Pulmonary Hypertension Center
Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons
New York, New York

Dunbar Ivy, MD
Professor of Pediatrics
University of Colorado Denver, School of Medicine
Denver, Colorado

Contributing Authors
Steven H. Abman, MD
Pediatric Heart Lung Center
Sections of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Department of Pediatrics
University of Colorado Denver, School of Medicine
Children's Hospital Colorado
Aurora, Colorado

Mary P. Mullen, MD, PhD
Associate Director, Pulmonary Hypertension Service
Department of Cardiology
Children's Hospital, Boston
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Harvard Medical School
Boston, Massachusetts

Delphine Yung, MD
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Division of Cardiology, University of Washington
Pulmonary Hypertension Program, Seattle Children's Hospital
Seattle, Washington

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 enduring material for a maximum of 2.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits.™ Physicians should claim only the 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 115 to help physicians review important points. A form is also included on page 116 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. A score of 70% or higher on the self-assessment examination is required for CME credit to be awarded. Credits for this self-study program are available from September 1, 2011 through August 31, 2012. 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

www.cme.med.umich.edu/privacy.asp

Oversight and Accreditation

Tana O'Lone, Associate Administrator, Department of Medical Education, 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. To be disclosed to participants are all personal financial relationships with a commercial interest whose products are relevant to the content of this CME activity. 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:

Dr Yung receives research funding from Actelion.

Dr Abman reports no potential conflicts.

Dr Mullen reports no potential conflicts.