Bridging the Gap Between Clinical Practice and Challenges in the Management of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (Pharmacy Technician Credit)

Bridging the Gap Between Clinical Practice and Challenges in the Management of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (Pharmacy Technician Credit) is organized by Pharmacy Times Continuing Education (PTCE).,Release date: August 10, 2022,Expiration date: August 10, 2023,Description:,Patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) may present with shortness of breath or fatigue, which can severely impact their quality of life. The goals of treatment are to improve the patient’s quality of life, and new guidelines for the treatment and management of PAH also emphasize the use of combination therapy to reduce risk factors and proactively achieve low-risk status. However, combination therapy remains underutilized among healthcare professionals, but pharmacists can advocate for the use of these therapies, especially in high-risk patients. This activity will review the utilization of combination therapies targeting the prostacyclin, endothelin, and nitric oxide pathways in PAH, as well as investigational drugs targeting the BMPR2 signaling pathway. With several medication classes available, pharmacists will need to be familiar with specific adverse effects and sequential drug therapy as recommended in treatment algorithms. The role of the pharmacist on the multidisciplinary team in providing patient-focused education to incorporate the patient in treatment decisions will also be discussed.,Educational Objectives:,At the completion of this activity, pharmacy technicians will be able to:,• Describe the rationale for use of combination therapy regimens in the management of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH),• List challenges associated with the management of PAH and the appropriate use of combination therapy,• Recognize opportunities for pharmacy technicians to assist the pharmacist with improving adherence, slowing disease progression, and optimizing outcomes for patients with PAH