Pathology is no longer the" dead science" it was reputed to be a few decades ago. The famous Canadian pathologist, William Boyd, expressed the newer attitude aptly when he stated that pathology should no longer be concerned simply with describing the" WHAT" of disease, but must be increasingly con cerned with the "HOW" and the "WHY". By this he implied that the preoccupa tion of the usual student of disease in the architecture of diseased tissues and descriptions of participating cells, their staining characteristics, etc. , must give way to study and understanding of the dynamics of each disease process, the pathogenetic mechanisms producing the changes in body tissues. This study is not limited simply to etiologic factors and portals of entry to the site of the lesion, but includes the physical and chemical factors involved, the variations of host response conditioned by immunologic reactions of differing intensities, enzymatic excesses or deficiencies, and a host of other variables of little known character such as the prostaglandins which definitely affect the disease process. No longer is the pathologist one who looks at sections of diseased tissue merely for differentiation of disease, but truly a pathologist studies disease.

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.

Acute Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease is a concise, yet comprehensive, clinical resource highlighting must-know information on rheumatic heart disease and acute rheumatic fever from a global perspective. Covering the major issues dominating the field, this practical resource presents sufficient detail for a deep and thorough understanding of the latest treatment options, potential complications, and disease management strategies to improve patient outcomes. - Divided into four distinct sections for ease of navigation: Acute Rheumatic Fever, Rheumatic Heart Disease, Population-Based Strategies for Disease Control, and Acute and Emergency Presentations. - International editors and chapter authors ensure a truly global perspective. - Covers all clinical aspects, including epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical features, diagnosis, management, and treatment. - Includes key topics on population-based measures for disease control for effective primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention. - Consolidates today's available information and guidance into a single, convenient resource.

A comprehensive textbook for health-care professionsl and students covering the rheumatic diseases, including arthritis, lupus, osteoporosis, fibromyalgia and more.

This Open Access book presents practical approaches to managing patients affected by various rheumatological diseases, allowing readers to gain a better understanding of the various clinical expressions and problems experienced by these patients. Discussing rheumatology from an organ systems perspective, it highlights the importance ofdetailed musculoskeletal examinations when treating patients affected by rheumatological diseases. The book first explores the latest diagnostic approaches and offers key tips for accurate musculoskeletal examinations before addressing the various treatment modalities, with a particular focus on the most common joints involved in rheumatoid arthritis: the wrists and the metacarpophalangeal joints (2nd and 3rd). Featuring easy-to-understand flow diagrams and explaining the common medical problems associated with rheumatic disease, such as shortness of breath and anemia, it is not only a valuable resource to rheumatologists, but will also appeal to medical students, junior residents, and primary healthcare physicians.

This book provides a practical guide to the diagnosis and management of rheumatic disease in geriatric patients. It details information on the effect of ageing on musculoskeletal and immune systems and specifies impact of a variety of inflammatory and degenerative rheumatic disorders on the elderly. The clinical diagnostic approach to an older individual with musculoskeletal complaints is a cornerstone of this book, which includes also insights into the most important comorbidities for this age and discusses in depth available treatments and rehabilitation tools. The symptoms, imaging features and recommendations on the interpretation of specific laboratory tests for rheumatic diseases in geriatrics are also covered. This book encompasses traditionally associated with older age conditions including temporal arteritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, osteoarthritis, as well as common systemic autoimmune diseases that can produce atypical manifestations in the elderly. It will enable the readers to develop a thorough understanding of how to deal with these patients in their clinical practice. Rheumatic Disease in Geriatrics: Diagnosis and Management systematically describes how to diagnose and treat geriatric patients with a variety of rheumatic conditions and is a valuable resource for all medical professionals involved.

Pathology and Pathobiology of Rheumatic Diseases glows with the uncommon precision of the pathologist, the clarity of the tea cher, and the unswerving commitment of the investigator. Fass bender has produced a major contribution to the literature of rheumatic diseases. The practical experience and wisdom brought together in this book, substantiated by excellent exam ples of histopathology, produce a landmark for all who have made the study of rheumatic diseases their profession. The enor mous achievements made in molecular biology, genetics, struc tural biochemistry, and clinical science have been assembled in this book to interact in a meaningful way with the anatomical histology of the rheumatic diseases. It is not easy for any single investigator to paint the picture of a disease process, from its clinical description to its mechanisms, and then to a defined hypothesis, and finally an understanding. Nonetheless, Fassbender has done this in a clear and convincing way that integrates our current knowledge of this group of dis eases. Scientific discovery in medicine moves from the bedside to the bench, back to the bedside, and then back to the bench, etc. It is this iterative process of new observation and new discovery that has given us the achievements in medicine over the past century.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1964.

This book discusses the role of patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) in the diagnosis and management of rheumatic diseases and their implementation in patient-centered care. It aims to improve the quality and efficiency of patient care in standard practice by outlining the appropriate information-gathering and decision-making processes. The book highlights the evidence and advanced knowledge base of PROMs in rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, osteoarthritis, and systemic sclerosis. Featuring reviews of Patient Reported Outcome tools and Physician RheuMetric Measures as well as examples of patient reported outcome questionnaires, Patient Reported Outcome Measures in Rheumatic Diseases serves as an excellent introduction and resource for implementation of PROMs in clinical rheumatology practice.

This book provides a comprehensive and up-to-date review of the basic and clinical aspects of infections and infectious processes that trigger or aggravate a variety of autoimmune and inflammatory musculoskeletal disorders. It delivers a timely update on the interactions between infection and rheumatic diseases in order to provide clinicians with the tools they need for proper diagnosis and treatment. The book is divided into five main sections. The first examines the basic aspects of bacterial infections with a discussion of molecular biology, the microbiome, various types of bacteria that cause infection, and recent advances in biologic therapy. The next section focuses on different forms of viral arthritis including hepatitis arthritis, arthritis associated with alpha viruses, and parvovirus-related arthritis. Subsequent chapters then discuss arthritis caused by mycobacteria, fungi, spirochete, and other miscellaneous arthritides. Following this are various analyzations on reactive arthritis and infection-related rheumatic diseases such as Whipple’s Disease, SAPHO Syndrome, rheumatic fever, and HIV-associated rheumatic manifestations. Finally, the book closes with three chapters on external impacts on infectious diseases such as climate change, vaccinations and systemic lupus erythematosus. Infections and the Rheumatic Diseases is an essential resource for physicians and related professionals, residents, fellows, graduate students, and nurses in rheumatology, clinical immunology, and internal medicine.