TARGET AUDIENCE
This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of healthcare professionals involved in the care of patients with angioedema.

MEDIA: NEWSLETTER SERIES
This newsletter series is designed to assist healthcare professionals in understanding the pathogenesis, classification, etiologies, and clinical evaluation of angioedema, as well as the supportive care and treatment options for angioedema.

STATEMENT OF NEED
Angioedema is a clinical syndrome characterized by localized, subcutaneous and/or submucosal swelling involving the arms, legs, hands, feet, bowels, genitalia, trunk, face, tongue, or larynx. There are several different types of angioedema, including allergic angioedema, drug-induced angioedema, and hereditary angioedema (HAE). Allergic angioedema results from systemic IgE-mediated hypersensitivity reactions and release of histamine in response to certain foods, drugs, environmental agents, insect stings, and contact with other substances. Drug-induced angioedema can resemble an allergic or parallergic reaction to specific drugs, and HAE results from a mutation in the C1-inhibitor gene. Prevention of angioedema is largely dependent on patient history, and treatment involves removal of causative factors and administration of such agents as leukotriene receptor antagonists, azathioprine, fresh-frozen plasma, epinephrine, 17α-alkylated androgens, and antifibrinolytic drugs (depending on the type, severity, and longevity of the presenting case). Angioedema is a serious, sometimes life-threatening condition that requires appropriate, timely diagnosis and treatment.

DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICTS
OF INTEREST
Postgraduate Institute for Medicine (PIM) requires instructors, planners, managers and other individuals who are in a position to control the content of this activity to disclose any real or apparent conflict of interest they may have as related to the content of this activity. All identified conflicts of interest are thoroughly vetted by PIM for fair balance, scientific objectivity of studies mentioned in the materials or used as the basis for content, and appropriateness of patient care recommendations.

CONTINUING EDUCATION

PHYSICIANS
Accreditation Statement
Postgraduate Institute for Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for Volume 1, Issues 1 and 3, and a maximum of 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for Volume 1, Issue 2. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

A statement of credit will be issued only upon receipt of a completed activity Evaluation form and will be mailed to you within 4 to 6 weeks.

NURSE PRACTITIONERS
(Volume 1, Issue 1 only)
Volume 1, Issue 1 is approved for 0.9 contact hour of continuing education (which includes 0.25 hour(s) of pharmacology) by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. Program ID 0902085.

This activity was planned in accordance with AANP CE Standards and Policies and AANP Commercial Support Standards.

FEE INFORMATION
There is no fee for this activity.

STATEMENT OF SUPPORT
This activity is jointly sponsored by Robert Michael Educational Institute LLC and Postgraduate Institute for Medicine, and is supported by an educational grant from ViroPharma Incorporated.

REQUEST MORE INFORMATION
Additional educational activities offered by Robert Michael Educational Institute LLC can be found at www.RMEI.com or by calling toll free to 866-770-RMEI.

United States Hereditary Angioedema Association
This non-profit patient advocacy organization is dedicated to expediting US approval of safer and more effective HAE therapies. In addition, the HAEA provides a wide range of services that include clinical trial placement, physician referrals, education, and individualized patient case management. For more information, visit www.haea.org.