CME: Hereditary angioedema (HAE): optimizing treatment strategies

Details

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare, debilitating, and potentially life-threatening disease due to C1-inhibitor (C1-INH) deficiency with an estimated frequency of 1 in 50,000 people. HAE is characterized by recurrent edema attacks and the cutaneous attacks can be disabling, with the skin, gastrointestinal tract, and upper airways are most commonly affected and with a persistent risk to the patient of acute events of laryngeal swelling that may prove fatal if not treated in a timely manner. Angioedema in general can be confused with cellulitis, Graves’ disease, blepharochalasis, eosinophilic fasciitis, or amyloidosis which can lead to delays in diagnosis, and inappropriate treatment poses the risk of adverse events, unnecessary surgical interventions, a higher burden of misery, and a potentially higher rate of morbidity and mortality.

By the end of the session the participant will be able to:

• Recall the pathophysiology of HAE such that it might inform treatment mechanisms
• Recognize the risks associated with misdiagnosis of HAE
• Evaluate a treatment plan for a patient with HAE designed to optimize safety and efficacy, suggesting modifications for improvement
• Describe present and emerging drug therapies for management of HAE and apply them to patient cases taking into account the patient’s history or anticipated place in therapy

Target Audience:

Healthcare professionals who are: allergists, immunologists, and internists; physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, and pharmacists specializing in immunology; and any other HCPs who have an interest in or otherwise clinically encounter patients with HAE.