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 4 articles that summarize presentations at PHA's International Pulmonary Hypertension Conference and Scientific Sessions in Garden Grove on June 24, 2010.

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. Understand the potential pathogenic role of HIV Nef (negative factor) in formation of pulmonary vascular lesions seen in HIVassociated pulmonary hypertension (PH)

2. Discuss the limitations of current therapeutic options available in the treatment of PAH and identify priorities in PH research moving forward

3. Understand the growth factor dependent mechanisms controlling vascular development

4. Describe the fundamental mechanisms underlying the initiation and progression of PAH to advance the development of therapies based on the central role of endothelial cell injury and loss by apoptosis

Self-Assessment Examination

1. View the entire articles.
2. Complete the online posttest and evaluation.
3. Complete the electronic credit request and activity evaluation. An electronic certificate of participation will be provided immediately.
4. Print the certificate of participation for your personal records.

Faculty

Chair

Karen A. Fagan, MD
Chief, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
University of South Alabama; Mobile, Alabama

Contributing Authors

Sharilyn Almodovar, PhD
University of Colorado Denver
Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine
Denver, Colorado

Sonia C. Flores, PhD
University of Colorado School of Medicine
Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care
Aurora, Colorado

Dorothy B. Gail, PhD
Director, Lung Biology and Disease Program
Division of Lung Diseases
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, Maryland

James P. Kiley, PhD
Director, Division of Lung Diseases
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, Maryland

Timothy M. Moore, MD, PhD
Medical Officer
Lung Vascular Research Program Director
Division of Lung Diseases
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, Maryland

Lawrence S. Prince, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Cell and Developmental Biology
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Nashville, Tennessee

Duncan J. Stewart, MD
CEO and Scientific Director
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Agenda

Inflammation in HIV-Associated Pulmonary Hypertension: Cause or Effect?
Sharilyn Almodovar, PhD, and Sonia C. Flores, PhD

Endothelial Cells Caught in the Crosshiars of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Duncan J. Stewart, MD

Growth Factors in Pulmonary Hypertension: Guilty Parties or Just Bystanders?
Lawrence S. Prince, MD, PhD

Update from the NHLBI on Lung Vascular and Pulmonary Hypertension Research
Timothy M. Moore, MD, PhD; Dorothy B. Gail, PhD; and James P. Kiley, PhD

CME Accreditation and Credit Designation

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.

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.

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 Jan 1, 2011 through Dec 31, 2011. There is no fee for this program.

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:

None of the authors have any relevant personal financial relationships to disclose.

CME Reviewer

Kevin Chan, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
University of Michigan Health Systems, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Kevin Chan, MD, has received grant/research support from Alnylam Pharmaceuticals and Gilead.

 

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