
Do you know when to recommend testing for AATD?
Released On
February 24, 2023
Expires On
February 24, 2024
Media Type
Internet
Completion Time
45 minutes
Specialty
Allergy & Immunology, Gastroenterology, Hospitalist, Primary Care, Pulmonology
Topic(s)
Allergies, Antitrypsin Deficiency, Asthma, Respiratory
Scroll to the Bottom of this Information to Begin this Course
This activity is provided by Academy for Continued Healthcare Learning (ACHL).

This activity is supported by an educational grant from Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.
Credit Available
- Physicians — maximum of .75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™
Physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and nurses may participate in this educational activity and earn a certificate of completion as AAPA, AANP, and ANCC accept AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ through their reciprocity agreements.
Target Audience
This activity is intended for pulmonologists, gastroenterologists, allergists, immunologists, and other members of the multidisciplinary team who screen patients for AATD. A supplemental resource is available for patients and their families who may have a high probability of AATD.
Statement of Need/Program Overview
To facilitate the diagnosis and management of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD), clinicians require an understanding of the patient and clinical characteristics that should prompt screening, including a family history and signs of lung or liver involvement. This educational tool supports an easy translation of knowledge and encourages informed decision making for screening and testing patients for AATD. Access expert commentary, resources, and an animated video to be shared with patients who have a high probability of AATD, to increase awareness around common conditions related to AATD, how it is screened, and how to communicate with their healthcare team.
AATD is underrecognized, even though early identification is so critical. Education is needed to support early diagnosis and management of patients with AATD. Early detection can slow AATD-related symptoms and disease progression, encourage healthy habits and lifestyle adjustments, and lead to beneficial interventions to improve disease prognosis and patients’ quality of life.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:
- Employ strategies to improve awareness, detection, and management of AATD
- Implement evidence-based strategies to screen and test patients for AATD
- Discuss benefits of earlier institution of AAT augmentation therapy to slow the progression of comorbidities in affected individuals
Faculty
Caroline Jouhourian, MD
Gastroenterologist
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Boston, MA
Cheryl Pirozzi MD, MS
Associate Professor
Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, UT
Physician Accreditation Statement
The Academy for Continued Healthcare Learning is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Physician Credit Designation
The Academy for Continued Healthcare Learning designates this enduring material for a maximum of 0.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and nurses may participate in this educational activity and earn a certificate of completion as AAPA, AANP, and ANCC accept AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ through their reciprocity agreements.
Disclosures of Conflicts of Interest
The Academy for Continued Healthcare Learning (ACHL) requires that the faculty participating in an accredited continuing education activity disclose all affiliations or other financial relationships within 24 months (1) with the manufacturers of any commercial product(s) and/or provider(s) of commercial services discussed in an educational presentation and (2) with all ineligible companies. All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated prior to this activity.
The following financial relationships have been provided:
Caroline Jouhourian, MD, has no financial relationships to disclose
Cheryl Pirozzi MD, MS, has no financial relationships to disclose
Discussion of Off-Label, Investigational, or Experimental Drug/Device Use: None
ACHL staff members and others involved with the planning, development, and review of the content for this activity have no relevant affiliations or financial relationships to disclose.
Instructions for Participation and Credit
This activity will take approximately 45 minutes to complete. To receive credit, learners are required to complete the pretest, view the online activity, and complete the posttest and evaluation. To receive credit, 80% must be achieved on the posttest. A certificate will be immediately available. There is no fee to participate in the activity or for the generation of the certificate.
Disclaimer
The content for this activity was developed independently of any ineligible company. All materials are included with permission. The opinions expressed are those of the faculty and are not to be construed as those of the publisher or grantor(s).
This educational activity was planned and produced in accordance with the ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Recommendations involving clinical medicine in a continuing medical education (CME/CE) activity must be based on evidence that is accepted within the profession of medicine as adequate justification for their indications and contraindications in the care of patients. All scientific research referred to, reported, or used in CME/CE in support or justification of a patient care recommendation must conform to the generally accepted standards of experimental design, data collection, and analysis.
This CME/CE activity might describe the off-label, investigational, or experimental use of medications and/or devices that may exceed their FDA-approved labeling. Physicians should consult the current manufacturers’ prescribing information for these products. ACHL requires the speaker to disclose that a product is not labeled for the use under discussion. discussion.
Contact Information
For CME questions, please, contact Laurie Novoryta at Lnovoryta@achlcme.org.