Clinical Issues in Atopic Dermatitis

Target Audience

These activities have been designed to meet the educational needs of dermatologists, allergists/clinical immunologists, and other clinicians who treat patients with severe atopic dermatitis.

Statement of Need/Program Overview

Atopic dermatitis is a common, chronic inflammatory disease that manifests primarily in the skin, although research has uncovered potential deleterious effects in other organ systems throughout the body.^1,2 The multifactorial biopsychosocial burdens of atopic dermatitis often markedly reduce patients’ quality of life, particularly in those with moderate-to-severe disease.^3,4 A better understanding of atopic dermatitis etiology has supported the development of new approaches to disease characterization and targeted therapies.^5,6 Indeed, the first biologic medication is now available to treat patients with moderate-to-severe disease and several other agents are in late-stage clinical development.⁷ To best serve their patients with difficult-to-treat atopic dermatitis, dermatologists can benefit from updates on the latest clinical trial data and practical recommendations on how the growing evidence pool should be translated into daily clinical decision-making for patient assessment and treatment.^7,8 In this Clinical Issues™ program, an expert faculty panel will discuss and debate the pathophysiologic underpinnings of atopic dermatitis, considerations related to comprehensively evaluating patients, and recommended therapeutic strategies for moderate-to-severe disease. Participants are sure to leave this lively and engaging program with new information and a fresh perspective on the evolving best practices for managing patients with atopic dermatitis. 

References

1. Nutten S. Atopic dermatitis: global epidemiology and risk factors. Ann Nutr Metab. 2015:66(suppl 1):8-16.
2. Brunner PM, et al. Increasing comorbidities suggest that atopic dermatitis is a systemic disorder. J Invest Dermatol. 2017;137(1):18-25.
3. Whiteley J, et al. The burden of atopic dermatitis in US adults: results from the 2013 National Health and Wellness Survey. Curr Med Res Opin. 2016;32(10):1-7 [Epub ahead of print].
4. Drucker AM, et al. The burden of atopic dermatitis: summary of a report for the National Eczema Association. J Invest Dermatol. 2017;137(1):26-30. 
5. Mansouri Y, Guttman-Yassky E. Immune pathways in atopic dermatitis, and definition of biomarkers through broad and targeted therapeutics. J Clin Med. 2015;4(5):858-873.
6. Gandhi NA, et al. Targeting key proximal drivers of type 2 inflammation in disease. Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2016;15(1):35-50.
7. Simpson EL, et al. Two phase 3 trials of dupilumab versus placebo in atopic dermatitis. N Engl J Med. 2016;375(24):2335-2348.
8. Ungar B, et al. An integrated model of atopic dermatitis biomarkers highlights the systemic nature of the disease. J Invest Dermatol. 2017;137(3):603-613.

Educational Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be better able to do the following:

• Describe the pathophysiologic mechanisms and risk factors that contribute to atopic dermatitis development and persistence, with a focus on specific targets of current and emerging systemic treatments
• Assess patients with atopic dermatitis over time for uncontrolled symptoms, sleep disturbances, comorbid conditions, and treatment responses
• Describe the mechanistic rationales and clinical evidence for current and emerging biologic therapies in the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis
• Individualize long-term therapeutic regimens for moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis to prevent exacerbations, manage comorbidities, maximize health-related quality of life, and minimize treatment-related side effects
• Communicate with patients and caregivers to improve their understanding of atopic dermatitis and the importance of treatment adherence and to promote shared decision-making

Faculty

Mark Boguniewicz, MD
Professor, Division of Pediatric Allergy-Immunology
Department of Pediatrics
National Jewish Health
University of Colorado School of Medicine
Denver, Colorado

Eric L. Simpson, MD, MCR
Professor of Dermatology
Director, Clinical Research
Department of Dermatology
Oregon Health & Science University
Portland, Oregon

Physician Accreditation Statement

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of Global Education Group (Global) and Integritas Communications.  Global is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Physician Credit Designation

Global Education Group designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.  Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Global Contact Information

For information about the accreditation of this program, please contact Global at 303-395-1782 or cme@globaleducationgroup.com.

Instructions to Receive Credit

In order to receive credit for this activity, the participant must score at least 70% on the posttest and complete the program evaluation.

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

Global Education Group (Global) requires instructors, planners, managers, and other individuals and their spouses/life partners 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 Global for fair balance, scientific objectivity of studies mentioned in the materials or used as the basis for content, and appropriateness of patient care recommendations.

The faculty reported the following financial relationships or relationships to products or devices they or their spouses/life partners have with commercial interests related to the content of this CME activity:

Mark Boguniewicz, MD: Consultant/Independent Contractor: Pfizer Inc., Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Sanofi Genzyme; Grant/Research Support: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Speakers Bureau: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Sanofi Genzyme

Eric Simpson, MD, MCR: Consultant/Independent Contractor: AbbVie Inc.; Eli Lilly and Company, Galderma Laboratories, L.P., LEO Pharma Inc., Menlo Therapeutics Inc., Pfizer Inc., Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Sanofi Genzyme; Grant Research: Eli Lilly and Company, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc.

The planners and managers reported the following financial relationships or relationships to products or devices they or their spouses/life partners have with commercial interests related to the content of this CME activity:

Ashley Marostica, RN, MSN, Lindsay Borvansky, Andrea Funk, Liddy Knight, Rose O'Connor, PhD, CHCP, hereby state that neither they nor their spouses/life partners have any financial relationships to products or devices with any commercial interest related to the content of these activities of any amount during the past 12 months.

Disclosure of Unlabeled Use

This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the US Food and Drug Administration. Global Education Group (Global) and Integritas Communications do not recommend the use of any agent outside of the labeled indications. 

The opinions expressed in the educational activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily represent the views of any organization associated with this activity. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.

Disclaimer

Participants have an implied responsibility to use the newly acquired information to enhance patient outcomes and their own professional development. The information presented in this activity is not meant to serve as a guideline for patient management. Any procedures, medications, or other courses of diagnosis or treatment discussed or suggested in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of the patient’s conditions and possible contraindications or dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer’s product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities.

Fee Information & Refund/Cancellation Policy

There is no fee for this educational activity.