CME: The spectrum of alpha-thalassemia: comprehensive care of an orphan disease
ACCREDITATION EXPIRED: June 01, 2025
Activity Description / Statement of Need:
In this online, self-learning activity:
Thalassemias belong to a group of recessively inherited blood disorders characterized by little or no hemoglobin production and chronic anemia of varying severity. Alpha-thalassemia (AT) is most commonly found in people of Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Asian, and North African descent. Worldwide, 5% of people are AT carriers, with a much higher prevalence in certain regions (eg, up to 23% in Southeast Asia). AT is typically caused by deletions of one or more α-globin genes, of which there are 4 in total, leading to reduced or abolished α-globin production; nondeletional forms of AT can also occur and are generally more severe. The loss of functional α-globin disrupts the globin chain equilibrium, leading to excess γ- and β-globin chain formation and causing ineffective erythropoiesis.
Target Audience:
The following healthcare professionals: hematologists; physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and pharmacists who practice in hematology; and any other healthcare professionals with an interest in or who may clinically encounter patients with AT.
Commercial Support Disclosure: This program is supported by an educational grant from Agios Pharmaceuticals.
This activity is free of charge.
Release Date: June 01, 2023 -- Expiration Date: June 01, 2025
Faculty: Zahra Pakbaz, MD
Agenda
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Introduction, faculty disclosures |
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Review of alpha-thalassemia (AT)
o Risk factors o Geographic and heritage influences
o ɑ-globin genes o Ineffective erythropoiesis o Differences between alpha- and beta-thalassemias
o Screening programs and recommendations o Clinical presentations of AT - Genotype-phenotype correlations - Hemolytic anemia - Splenomegaly - Growth delays o Recommended testing - Genetic testing - Laboratory evaluation |
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Treatment of patients with AT
Patient case(s) |
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Summary, conclusions, and best practices recap |
Learning Objectives
By the end of the session the participant will be able to:
- Evaluate the genetic and pathophysiologic causes of alpha-thalassemia, with a focus on targets of emerging therapies.
- Describe the challenges clinicians are faced with regarding the recognition, diagnosis, and management of patients with alpha-thalassemia.
- Discuss the latest safety and efficacy data regarding both conventional and emerging treatment options for patients with alpha-thalassemia, including the implications for ongoing untreated low hemoglobin levels.
- Develop a plan for treating patients with non-transfusion-dependent and transfusion-dependent alpha-thalassemia.
Accreditation
ACCME Activity #202527762
ACCREDITATION FOR THIS COURSE HAS EXPIRED. YOU MAY VIEW THE PROGRAM, BUT CME / CE IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE AND NO CERTIFICATE WILL BE ISSUED.Faculty Disclosure and Resolution of COI
As a provider of continuing medical education, it is the policy of ScientiaCME to ensure balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor in all of its educational activities. In accordance with this policy, faculty and educational planners must disclose any significant relationships with commercial interests whose products or devices may be mentioned in faculty presentations, and any relationships with the commercial supporter of the activity. The intent of this disclosure is to provide the intended audience with information on which they can make their own judgments. Additionally, in the event a conflict of interest (COI) does exist, it is the policy of ScientiaCME to ensure that the COI is resolved in order to ensure the integrity of the CME activity. For this CME activity, any COI has been resolved thru content review by ScientiaCME.
Disclosure of Faculty: Zahra Pakbaz, MD, HS Associate Clinical Professor, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, UCI Health, has received financial compensation from consulting and/or speakers bureau and/or research grants from Novartis, Amgen, Sanofi, Global Blood Therapeutics, Pfizer, Dova, Sobi, TerumoBCT, Vertex, Agios, Forma, and NovoNordisk.
Disclosures of Educational Planners: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP, President of ScientiaCME, has no relevant financial disclosures.
Faculty will NOT discuss off-label uses.
All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated.
ScientiaCME adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity, including faculty, planners, reviewers or others are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.
Commercial Support Disclosure: This program is supported by an educational grant from Agios Pharmaceuticals.
Instructions
- Read the learning objectives above
- Take the Pre-Test (optional). Completion of the pre-test will help us evaluate the knowledge gained by participating in this CME activity.
- View the online activity. You may view this is in more than one session, and may pause or repeat any portion of the presentation if you need to.
- Minimum participation threshold: Take the post-test. A score of 70% or higher is required to pass and proceed to the activity evaluation.
- Complete the activity evaluation and CME registration. A CE certificate will be emailed to you immediately.
System Requirements
Windows 7 or above
Internet Explorer 8
*Adobe Acrobat Reader
Mac OS 10.2.8
Safari or Chrome or Firefox
*Adobe Acrobat Reader
Internet Explorer is not supported on the Macintosh
*Required to view Printable PDF Version
Please take a few minutes to participate in the optional pre-test. It will help us measure the knowledge gained by participating in this activity.
Additional Courses That Are Related To This Activity
Managing beta-thalassemia and related complications in a real-life clinical setting
Contemporary treatment approaches in the management of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)