OVERVIEW

Advances in™ Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI): Breaking Down Diagnosis and Treatment is organized by Physicians' Education Resource, LLC (PER).

Release Date: December 20, 2019
Expiration Date: December 20, 2020

Accreditation:
Physicians’ Education Resource®, LLC, designates this enduring material 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.

Physicians’ Education Resource®, LLC, is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider #16669, for 1.0 Contact Hour.

Activity Overview:
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) is a condition characterized by deficiency of the exocrine pancreatic enzymes amylase, lipase, and protease, resulting in the inability to digest food properly. This maldigestion, especially of fats is the main cause of weight loss in patients with EPI, and these patients present with low levels of micronutrients, fat-soluble vitamins, and lipoproteins. Together with abdominal cramps and the typical characteristics of fatty stools associated with steatorrhea the main clinical consequence of EPI is malnutrition. Consequently, individuals with EPI have a high morbidity and mortality secondary to an increased risk of malnutrition-related complications and cardiovascular events, as well as a potential decrease in quality of life. Unfortunately, a diagnosis of EPI is frequently underrecognized because the signs and symptoms overlap with other gastrointestinal diseases.

The Advances in™ Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency: Breaking Down the Diagnosis and Treatment of EPI activity will aid clinicians in earlier recognition of EPI with an overview of the clinical presentation and both pancreatic and nonpancreatic etiology. Expert faculty will then describe how a diagnosis is best made and then review the available treatments with practical strategies to optimize patient outcomes.

Learning Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this educational activity, you should be better prepared to:
• Analyze the epidemiology, etiology, and pathophysiology of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI)
• Review the key aspects of an EPI diagnosis including physical exam, indirect and direct pancreatic function test findings
• Evaluate the efficacy, safety, and indications of the available PERT therapies for patients with EPI