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

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

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

Agenda

Approach to the Child With Pulmonary Hypertension and Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
Steven H. Abman, MD

Idiopathic and Heritable Pulmonary Hypertension in Children: New Insights into Causes, Evaluation, and Treatment
Mary P. Mullen, MD, PhD

An Update on Therapies for Pediatric Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension 2011
Delphine Yung, MD

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 September 1, 2011 through August 31, 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 Yung receives research funding from Actelion.
Dr Abman reports no potential conflicts.
Dr Mullen reports no potential conflicts.

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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