Polymyositis and Dermatomyositis provides extensive information regarding Polymyositis and Dermatomyositis (PM/DM), which is described as a heterogeneous disease complex. This book is divided into four sections: Part I (Clinical Features) covers the classification of PM/DM, details of the clinical presentation, and the disease's association with the other connective tissue disorders and malignancies. Part II (Etiology and Mechanisms) covers advances in the immunopathology and viral etiology of PM/DM along with a frequently recognized entity: inclusion body myositis. Part III (Diagnosis and Treatment) covers the histologic, muscle enzyme histochemical, electron microscopic, and resin histology features of PM/DM along with those electromyographic features that could help make a more accurate diagnosis. Part IV (Overview) summarizes the issues that may not have been clear and highlights differing and unsettled views or present available data. This text is directed to clinicians in private practice or in academic institutions concerned with PM/DM patients, including neurologists, rheumatologists, pediatricians, dermatologists, physiatrists, and neuromuscular investigators. This book is intended as well for neuromuscular pathologists who interpret muscle biopsy specimens and electromyographers who perform EMG studies to help determine the clinical diagnosis. Researchers in immunology and immunopathology of neuromuscular diseases will find discussions in this book invaluable.

This book presents a comprehensive review of the inflammatory myopathies, including dermatomyositis, polymyositis, and inclusion body myositis. Representing the most up-to-date knowledge on this family of diseases, this book is the gold-standard in its field.

Although dermatomyositis is a rare connective tissue disease, many physicians are confronted with the diagnosis and treatment of patients affected by this condition. Based on the vast personal experience of the authors, who have diagnosed, treated, and managed many dermatomyositis patients, this clinical guide provides dermatologists, rheumatologists, pediatricians, neurologists, and general practitioners with the keys to interpreting the clinical symptoms of dermatomyositis. Also included are algorithms to help the reader to make the correct diagnosis, as well as guidance on new diagnostic methods and treatment schemes.

Rewritten and redesigned, this remains the one essential text on the diseases of skeletal muscle.

This comprehensive book serves as a guide in the day-to-day management of patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM), with a particular emphasis on adult dermatomyositis (DM), polymyositis (PM), juvenile dermatomyositis, necrotizing myositis, and inclusion body myositis. Practical in nature, it presents IIM concepts in a straightforward fashion, with high-quality figures, algorithms, and flowcharts supplementing each of the expertly authored chapters. The book begins with an introduction to myositis, providing an overview of the myositis basics and what type of patient is affected. Subsequent chapters are organized by the sequence in which a physician often manages myositis, from initial presentation and workup, to diagnosis, treatment, and finally prognostic and long-term outcome factors. The key differentials in various diagnostic studies are thoroughly examined, including electromyography, muscle biopsy, and MRI. Managing Myositis: A Practical Guide is an easy to-read, indispensable resource for internists, rheumatologists, dermatologists, pulmonologists, and neurologists.

Inflammatory Diseases of Blood Vessels“/b> Inflammatory Diseases of Blood Vessels Second Edition Inflammatory Diseases of Blood Vessels provides a comprehensive overview of the science and clinical consequences of vascular inflammation in health and disease. In recent years, considerable progress has been made in understanding different forms of vasculitis. Investigation of pathogenesis of vascular inflammation has led to improved treatments and outcomes. Surgical and transplant procedures have improved in parallel with medical therapies. These areas are extensively examined in this new edition. Inflammatory Diseases of Blood Vessels is an excellent resource for a broad readership, including clinicians, investigators and their support teams in numerous specialties e.g. rheumatology, immunology, cardiology, cardiovascular surgery, pulmonary medicine, nephrology, pathology, vascular biology, embryology and imaging.

The prevalence of autoimmune diseases and rheumatic conditions is constantly increasing. Autoimmune diseases affect approximately 7-10% of the population of the United States, while more than 50,000,000 American adults suffer from some type of arthritis. The Heart in Rheumatic, Autoimmune and Inflammatory Diseases examines the complex mechanisms relating to cardiac diseases from a pathophysiological and clinical point of view. Autoimmune rheumatic diseases can affect the coronary vessels, myocardium, pericardium, heart valves and the conduction system. The diagnosis of these unique cardiac complications necessitates medical awareness and a high index of suspicion. Increased risk of advanced atherosclerosis plays a pivotal role in the development of cardiac diseases in systemic, rheumatic and autoimmune illnesses. Yet, other complex immune medicated mechanisms may contribute to the pathogenesis. Patients' optimal care requires coordination between the primary caregiver, the rheumatologist, immunologist and cardiologist. Screening for cardiovascular risk factors, recognition of high-risk patients and identification of subclinical cardiac conditions are of great importance. Moreover, regulation of inflammation, as well as abnormal immune responses and the initiation of early treatments should be the focus of patient management. A continuous attempt to identify novel therapeutic targets and change the natural history of the underlying disease and its cardiac manifestations is in progress. The book aims at providing the readers with a state of the art collection of up to date information regarding clinically important topics based on experts' perspectives. This book was a result of an extended coordinated collaboration of one-hundred and fifty-four distinguished scientists from thirty-one countries around the globe. - A review of common, as well as unusual (yet clinically significant) medical cardiac complications of prevalent rheumatic, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. - Focuses on aspects of pathophysiological processes, clinical presentations, screening tests, prognostic implications and novel therapeutic approaches. - Presents an up-to-date "level of evidence and "strengths of recommendations for suggested therapies and reviews all randomized clinical trials, meta-analyses and other supporting published clinical findings.

Autoimmune disorders of the skin remain an enigma for many clinicians and scientists not familiar with these mostly severe and chronic diseases. The book provides an overview and the latest information on the broad spectrum of cutaneous autoimmune disorders for clinicians, scientists and practitioners in dermatology, medicine, rheumatology, ENT, pediatrics and ophthalmology. The book is unique since it presents the state-of-the-art knowledge on pathophysiology, clinical diagnosis and management of these disorders provided by the world experts in the field. The primary intention is to broaden the understanding of the pathophysiology of cutaneous autoimmune disorders and to provide a practical guide to how to identify and handle these conditions. The book is illustrated with many tables, illustrative figures and clinical color photographs. The third edition has been thoroughly updated and extended by chapters on paraneoplastic cutaneous syndromes, atopic dermatitis and autoimmunity and Skin manifestations of rheumatic diseases.

Patients with dermatomyositis (DM), polymyositis (PM), inclusion body myositis (IBM), and juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) present a personal look at life with these diseases.