Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (EGPA): Expert Perspectives on Diagnosis and Treatment

Overview

Provider Statement

This continuing medical education activity is provided by

Support Statement

This educational activity is supported by an educational grant from GlaxoSmithKline. 

Activity Description

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), formerly called Churg-Strauss syndrome, is a rare form of vasculitis that primarily affects the small blood vessels. Individuals diagnosed with EGPA commonly have a history of asthma and/or allergies. Inflammation associated with EGPA can lead to injury in multiple organ systems, including the sinuses, lungs, gastrointestinal system, heart, and kidneys. Early diagnosis and treatment are critical when managing EGPA to improve patient outcomes and reduce symptom burden. Education is needed to provide clinicians with the latest information regarding optimal diagnostic and management strategies, including newer steroid-sparing therapy options. In this CME monograph, experts will provide guidance on differentiating EGPA from related vasculitides or eosinophilic conditions, highlight recent clinical data, and discuss therapeutic advancements.

Target Audience

The intended audience for this activity is rheumatologists, pulmonologists and other health care professionals involved in the management of patients with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis.

Learning Objective

Upon successful completion of this educational activity, participants should be better able to:

• Summarize current evidence regarding the immunopathology and clinical features of EGPA to aid in early diagnosis.
  
• Recognize the burden that disease symptoms have on the quality of life of patients with EGPA.
  
• Differentiate EGPA from other related vasculitides or eosinophilic conditions to allow for earlier treatment.
  
• Review the use of corticosteroids and immunosuppressants in the treatment of EGPA, as well as their ability to achieve remission.
  
• Identify patients with EGPA who may benefit from glucocorticoid-sparing options.
  
• Incorporate evidence into practice regarding the latest clinical advances that have been shown to improve the treatment of patients with EGPA.

Activity Chair

Leonard H. Calabrese, DO
Professor of Medicine
Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine
Case Western Reserve University
R.J. Fasenmyer Chair of Clinical Immunology
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, OH

Faculty

Praveen Akuthota, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine
University of California San Diego
La Jolla, CA

Anisha B. Dua, MD, MPH
Associate Professor of Medicine
Fellowship Program Director
Director of the Vasculitis Center
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Chicago, IL

Michael E. Wechsler, MD, MMSc
Professor of Medicine
Director, Cohen Family Asthma Institute
Deptartment of Medicine
National Jewish Health
Denver, CO

Reviewer

Ronald A. Codario, MD, EMBA, FACP, FNLA, RPVI, CHCP

Medical Writer

Valerie Zimmerman, PhD

Accreditation

Vindico Medical Education is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation

Vindico Medical Education designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. 

This enduring material is approved for 1 year from the date of original release, August 1, 2020 to August 1, 2021. 

How to Participate in This Activity and Obtain CME Credit

To participate in this CME activity, you must read the objectives, answer the pretest questions, and read the articles, and complete the CME posttest and evaluation. Provide only one (1) correct answer for each question. A satisfactory score is defined as answering 70% of the posttest questions correctly. Upon receipt of the completed materials, if a satisfactory score on the posttest is achieved, Vindico Medical Education will issue an AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ certificate.

Disclosures

In accordance with the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education’s Standards for Commercial Support, all accredited providers are required to mitigate and disclose to the activity audience the relevant financial relationships of the planners, teachers, and authors involved in the development of accredited content. An individual has a relevant financial relationship if he or she has a financial relationship in any amount occurring in the past 12 months with a commercial interest whose products or services are discussed in the accredited activity content over which the individual has control. Relationship information appears below.  

Activity Chair and Faculty report the following relationship(s)

Praveen Akuthota, MD
Royalty: UpToDate
Consulting Fee: AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline
Contracted Research: AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline

Leonard H. Calabrese, DO
Consulting Fee: AbbVie, Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Crescendo, Genentech, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Horizon, Janssen, Kiniksa, Lilly, Pfizer, Sanofi-Regeneron, UCB
Speakers Bureau: AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Crescendo, Genentech, Horizon, Sanofi, UCB

Anisha B. Dua, MD, MPH
Consulting Fee: AbbVie, Chemocentryx, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis
Speakers Bureau: AbbVie

Michael E. Wechsler, MD, MMSc
Consulting Fee: AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Equillium, Genentech, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, Regeneron, Sanofi, Teva
Contracted Research: AstraZeneca, Regeneron, Sanofi, Teva

Reviewer and Medical Writer report the following relationship(s)

Ronald A. Codario, MD, EMBA, FACP, FNLA, RPVI, CHCP
No relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Valerie Zimmerman, PhD
No relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Vindico Medical Education staff report the following relationship(s)

No relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Signed disclosures are on file at Vindico Medical Education, Office of Medical Affairs and Compliance.

Unlabeled and Investigational Usage

The audience is advised that this continuing medical education activity may contain references to unlabeled uses of US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved products or to products not approved by the FDA for use in the United States. The faculty members have been made aware of their obligation to disclose such usage. All activity participants will be informed if any speakers/authors intend to discuss either non—FDA-approved or investigational use of products/devices.

Copyright Statement

Created and published by Vindico Medical Education, 6900 Grove Road, Building 100, Thorofare, NJ 08086-9447. Telephone: 856-994-9400; Fax: 856-384-6680. Printed in the USA. Copyright © 2020 Vindico Medical Education. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The material presented at or in any of Vindico Medical Education continuing medical education activities does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Vindico Medical Education. Neither Vindico Medical Education nor the faculty endorse or recommend any techniques, commercial products, or manufacturers. The faculty/authors may discuss the use of materials and/or products that have not yet been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. All readers and continuing education participants should verify all information before treating patients or utilizing any product.

CME Questions?

Contact us at cme@vindicoCME.com