Lupus: The Essential Clinician's Guide / Edition 2

by Daniel J. Wallace

Overview

One million people in the United States suffer from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus), a chronic autoimmune disease that is potentially debilitating and sometimes fatal as the immune system attacks the body's cells and tissue, resulting in inflammation and tissue damage. SLE can affect any part of the body, but most often damages the heart, joints, skin, lungs, blood vessels, liver, kidneys and nervous system. The course of the disease is unpredictable, with periods of illness alternating with remission. It can be treated symptomatically, mainly with corticosteroids and immunosuppressants, though there is currently no cure. The symptoms of lupus vary widely, come and go unpredictably, and often mimic or are mistaken for other illnesses. As a result, patients present with varied symptoms to different practitioners and diagnosis can be elusive, with patients sometimes suffering unexplained symptoms and untreated lupus for years. Hence, a practical guide to the diagnosis and treatment of lupus is a valuable resource to an array of clinicians and may help expedite earlier diagnosis and better patient care. Part of the Oxford American Rheumatology Library, this concise, authoritative pocketbook describes the pathophysiology of lupus, diagnostic strategies and tools, and current and emerging therapeutic options, focusing on direct clinical applications for busy healthcare professionals. With 20 new tables and the most up-to-date information on the diagnosis, treatment and management of the condition, this second edition fulfills a need for a concise, practical guide to Lupus for clinicians that distills the principal features of this complicated, often misunderstood disorder.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780199361960
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	02/11/2014
Series:	Oxford American Rheumatology Library
Edition description:	2nd Revised ed.
Pages:	128
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 7.80(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Clinical Professor of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California

Table of Contents

1 The history of lupus
2 Defnitions and classifcation
3 Epidemiology of systemic lupus erythematosus
4 Pathogenesis
5 Clinical symptoms and signs
6 Laboratory and imaging abnormalities
7 Differential diagnosis and disease associations
8 Important subsets and special considerations
9 Methods of clinical ascertainment
10 General treatment concepts
11 Medications used to manage lupus erythematosus
12 Economic impact and disability issues
13 Prognosis
14 Experimental and innovative therapies

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: JISNA PAUL, MD (Washington University Medical Center)
Description: In this excellent practical guide to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the author gives a very up-to-date and evidence-based account of the disease. The previous edition was published in 2008
Purpose: Intended as a handbook to help clinicians, the book focuses on the pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of patients with lupus. Such a book is necessary to provide a quick, overall summary of the latest facts in the field.
Audience: This is an excellent guide for any clinician who is interested in learning how to recognize lupus in their patients and wants advice on what to do next. From medical students to skilled specialists, all will benefit from this book.
Features: In 14 chapters, the author does an excellent job of covering lupus, from the history of the disease to innovative therapies to treat patients. The chapters are brief and tables are plentiful, which makes it very easy reading. Most parts are referenced with the latest literature, without being exhaustive. This is meant to be a diagnostic and management aid in routine practice, with an additional focus on the pathophysiology of the disease, rather than a reference on lupus. This update includes all the new research data, helping readers to get an overall picture of the current views on lupus pathogenesis and management.
Assessment: While there are state-of-the-art textbooks in the field of lupus for use as references, this serves its purpose as a handbook. A new edition is justified because of the new data on pathogenesis and treatment options. The author follows the basic principles for an excellent handbook — keeping it simple and brief, with plenty of tables and an emphasis on providing the latest evidence.

Doody's Review Service

"This is an excellent guide for any clinician who is interested in learning how to recognize lupus in their patients and wants advice on what to do next. From medical students to skilled spcialists, all will benefit from this book. ... The author follows the basic principles for an excellent handbook — keeping it simple and brief, with plenty of tables and an emphasis on providing the latest evidence." —Doody's Health Sciences Book Review

"Dr. Wallace succeeds at using this succinct text to distill key clinical facts and offer numerous pearls for busy clinicians to aid in the management of patientswith SLE. I recommend this text for any rhcumatology trainee or practicing rheumatologist as a handy daily reference for all aspects of SLE care." — Journal of Rheumatology

From the Publisher