Taking a Deep Cleansing Breath: Updates in Management of Nasal Polyps

Target Audience

This activity is designed to meet the educational needs of allergists, immunologists, and specialty nurse practitioners (NPs)/physician assistants (PAs).

Program Overview

This activity will cover treatment choices for patients with Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps (CRSwNP), a chronic inflammatory condition of the sinonasal cavities. Until recently the only treatment options, included saline irrigation for symptomatic relief, local or oral corticosteroids to keep inflammation under control, and polypectomy through endoscopic sinus surgery. Novel biologics that were successful in controlling some forms of severe asthma were put into clinical trials to evaluate their impact on CRSwNP. Availability of biologics for CRSwNP gives clinicians treatment options beyond steroids and surgery for their CRSwNP patients who are struggling to breathe freely. However, it also confronts them with new and different decisions.

Learning Objectives

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

• Analyze the phenotypes and endotypes of chronic rhinosinusitis with and without nasal polyps based on what is understood thus far about immunologic pathophysiology and its impact on disease burden
• Summarize the mechanisms of action of new and emerging targeted biologics for CRSwNP, as well as the efficacy and safety profiles revealed in clinical trials
• Implement shared decision making with CRSwNP patients to determine when treatment with a biologic, intranasal corticosteroid, or surgery is most appropriate