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 women.

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 contraceptive options available to the patient with PAH
2. Understand the physiologic changes and challenges associated with pregnancy in PAH patients
3. Discuss the influence of sex hormones in pathogenesis of PAH

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

Co-chairs

Deborah Jo Levine, MD
Associate Professor
Director, Pulmonary Hypertension Center
University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas

Kelly Chin, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine
Director, Pulmonary Hypertension Program
UT Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, Texas

Contributing Authors

Eric D. Austin, MD, MSCI
Department of Pediatrics
Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Pulmonary Medicine
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Nashville, Tennessee

Patricia Santiago-Munoz, MD
Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology
UT Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, Texas

Dianne L. Zwicke, MD, FACC, FCCP, FACP
Medical Director
Pulmonary Hypertension Clinic at Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center
Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Milwaukee Clinical Campus
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Agenda

Gender, Sex Hormones, and Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Eric D. Austin, MD, MSCI

Contraceptive Options for the Patient with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Patricia Santiago- Munoz, MD

PAH and Pregnancy: Physiologic Changes, Challenges, and Outcomes
Dianne L. Zwicke, MD, FACC, FCCP, FACP

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 November 20, 2011 through November 19, 2012. 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:

Dr Levine reports no potential conflicts.
Dr Chin reports no potential conflicts.
Dr Austin reports no potential conflicts.
Dr Santiago-Munoz reports no potential conflicts.
Dr Zwicke reports an advisory relationship with Gilead and Pfizer.

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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