Free Allergy and Immunology CME

Treatment Updates on Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy emphasizes the use of IVIg in the treatment of Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy.

The presentation consists of a single lecture, Treatment Updates on Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy, with discussion by Roy L. Freeman, MD, Richard J. Barohn, MD and Kenneth C. Gorson, MD.

After viewing Treatment Updates on Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy, you will be better able to :
• Conduct a thorough and timely evaluation and differential diagnosis of patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy.
• Devise appropriate treatment regimen for the effective management of chronic inflammatory polyneuropathy based on guidelines and clinical evidence.

Target Audiences:
This program is intended for US-based neurologists, immunologists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and nurses who manage, or have an interest in managing patients with immune-mediated neuropathies.

Scientia CME Immunology – Allergy CME has three selections:

• Chronic Urticaria (CU): Therapeutic Updates, Best Practices, and Barriers to Care (1 hr CME);
• Psoriasis: Best Practices, Barriers to Care, and Emerging Therapies (1 hr CME)
• Asthma and allergic asthma: personalizing treatment to the patient and therapeutic updates (1 hr CME)

Target Audience:

Physicians specializing in Allergy or Dermatology.

In this three-part program, our faculty explores case studies and delves into the diagnostic modalities and emerging therapies in the management of seasonal influenza.

• • Diagnosing Influenza
  • Treating Influenza
  • Flu in Motion: Case Presentation

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.

Cold agglutinin disease (CAD) is a subtype of autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) and characterized by cold agglutinin (CA) autoantibodies that cause the erythrocytic hemolysis. Also known as primary or idiopathic CAD, it is distinguished further from cold agglutinin syndrome (CAS), which is a complication of known conditions such as malignancy, infection, or autoimmune disease. Little is known about the epidemiology of CAD; one small study estimated incidence of 1 per 1 million people and prevalence of 1 per 16 million people with females twice as likely males to develop the disease and a median age of onset of 67 years.

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

• Describe the pathogenesis and symptomology of AIHA generally and CAD specifically
• Describe how diagnosis of CAD is distinguished from other subtypes of AIHA and challenges to successful identification of patients
• Describe present and emerging treatment options for CAD and monitoring parameters for effectiveness of treatment
• Develop a safe and clinically effective treatment plan including non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic therapy for patients with CAD

Target Audience:

The following healthcare professionals (HCPs): hematologists, oncologists, immunologists; physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and pharmacists who practice in the aforementioned areas of specialty; and any other HCPs with an interest in or who clinically encounter patients with CAD.

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic immune-mediated disease characterized by clinical features of esophageal dysfunction and eosinophil inflammation. EoE is mediated by type 2 helper T cell activity and precipitated primarily by dietary antigens. It may affect people of all ages and races, but the prevalence is highest amongst middle-aged Caucasian males. Approximately 30 out of every 100,000 adults in the U.S. are thought to have the condition.

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

• Describe the patholophysiology of EoE in adults and adolescents such that it informs treatment mechanisms
• Describe the clinical presentation, complications associated with, and diagnosis EoE in adults and adolescents.
• Identify current drug treatment options and dietary strategies available for the management of EoE, including strengths and weaknesses of each, and apply them to patient cases using evidence-based medicine.
• Identify issues with current practices for EoE and strategies to address them.

Target Audience:

The following healthcare professionals: allergists, immunologists, pediatricians, and primary care physicians; physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, and pharmacists who specialize in the aforementioned fields; and any other healthcare professionals with an interest in or who may clinically encounter patients with EoE.