Acromegaly Treatment Strategies and Emerging Therapeutic Options

Non-CME Educational Tools

• “Let’s Talk About Acromegaly” – Click to Download PDF
• “What questions should I ask my doctor about acromegaly?” – Click to Download PDF
• Click here for additional information from Vindico Medical Education

Sponsorship Statement

This continuing medical education activity is sponsored by:

Support Statement

This activity is supported by an educational grant from:

Target Audience

The intended audience for the activity is endocrinologists, physicians treating pituitary glands, and other healthcare professionals involved in the treatment of patients with acromegaly.

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of the activity, participants will be able to:

• Apply evidence-based guidelines and the appropriate diagnostic modalities to diagnose acromegaly early to allow for prompt treatment and improved patient health.
• Assess and manage the comorbidities associated with acromegaly to allow for effective treatment and monitoring.
• Select the most appropriate therapy for patients with acromegaly based on presentation of disease and patient preferences.
• Assess novel therapies for the treatment of acromegaly that may enhance control of the disease at an earlier stage and improve patient acceptance.

Overview

Acromegaly, a rare disease most often caused by the prolonged secretion of excess growth hormone from a pituitary adenoma, is associated with multiple significant comorbidities and increased mortality. The delay in diagnosis is often prolonged due to low disease awareness among health care professionals, insidious onset of differentiating features, and symptoms typical of other conditions. Early identification of acromegaly facilitates prompt treatment initiation and may minimize the permanent effects of excess growth hormone secretion.

The primary treatment for many patients will be pituitary surgery, although not all patients will be eligible for surgery or achieve a surgical cure. If biochemical control is not achieved following surgery, other treatment options include medical and radiation therapy. This complex disease is best managed by a multidisciplinary team of neurosurgeons, endocrinologists, ophthalmologists, and radiotherapists with expertise in the management of pituitary tumors.

This CME program will provide endocrinologists and other health care professionals with the knowledge about the pathophysiology of acromegaly, the need for multidisciplinary care, and when and how to initiate appropriate treatment. The activity will also provide the latest information about emerging therapies that may preserve pituitary function, improve patient outcomes, quality of life, and adherence to therapy.

Faculty

Lisa Nachtigall, MD
Co-Director, Neuroendocrine Clinical Center
Massachusetts General Hospital
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Harvard Medical School
Boston, MA

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 0.25 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 one year from the date of original release: November 18, 2013 to November 17, 2014.

How To Participate in this Activity and Obtain CME Credit

To participate in this CME activity, you must read the objectives, answer the pre-test questions, watch the video, complete the CME post-test, and submit the evaluation. Provide only one (1) correct answer for each question. A satisfactory score is defined as answering 3 of the 4 of the post-test questions correctly. Upon receipt of the completed materials, if a satisfactory score on the post-test is achieved, Vindico Medical Education will issue an AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ Certificate.

Planning Committee and Faculty

Lisa Nachtigall, MD

Exernal Reviewer

Ronald Codario, Jr., MD

Disclosures

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

The authors disclose that they do have significant financial interests in any products or class of products discussed directly or indirectly in this activity, including research support.

Unlabeled and Investigational Usage

The audience is advised that this continuing medical education activity may contain references to unlabeled uses of 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 ©2013 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.

Questions?

Contact us at cme@vindicomeded.com