Rheumatology Advance Access originally published online on June 17, 2008
Rheumatology 2008 47(8):1262; doi:10.1093/rheumatology/ken214
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BOOK REVIEWS |
CURRENT RHEUMATOLOGY DIAGNOSIS & TREATMENT, 2ND Edn, Edited by J. Imboden, D. Hellmann and J. Stone.
CURRENT RHEUMATOLOGY DIAGNOSIS & TREATMENT, 2ND Edn, Edited by J. Imboden, D. Hellmann and J. Stone. £40.99 (
59.87). McGraw-Hill (Lange Medical Publications), New York, USA, 2007. 578 pp. ISBN 13 978-0-0714-6040-8.
The second edition of Current Rheumatology Diagnosis & Treatment is in front of us now. This valuable addition to rheumatology books can be roughly divided into three parts. The first part describes general aspects in rheumatology including examination and joint injection techniques and individual joint pathologies. The second part covers specific disease groups and diseases whereas the third part deals with related topics and other miscellaneous topics including legal issues and pharmacology.
All chapters are very well structured with summary and key points covered right in the beginning under the heading of ‘essential features’. Important information like differential diagnosis, complications and diagnostic criteria are tabulated in an easily memorizable fashion. References and websites at the end of each chapter are well chosen.
Chapters on laboratory diagnosis and interpretation of various immunological investigations and approaches to the adults and adolescents with arthritis are exceptionally well written and provide great help to understand the diagnostic process in rheumatology. These chapters are specifically very useful for beginners.
Discussion on individual joints provides a comprehensive account on clinical evaluation of each region along with differential diagnoses. At some points, however, e.g. while describing tests for impingement, a stepwise description with schematic illustrations rather than photographs, can be more helpful. Regional pain syndromes of knee and hip joints are better discussed and the drawings in these chapters provide a better understanding of anatomy and manoeuvres. Debate on diffuse pain syndrome and management of fibromyalgia are thorough and explicit.
Specific diseases and disease groups are discussed in brief but concise chapters. This section is very well illustrated with abundance of photographs demonstrating clinical, radiological and histopathological signs. The section on vasculitides consists of 14 chapters describing complex issues in various diseases in an easily understandable manner. The chapters on RA and PsA are very well written and have excellent illustrations. The discussion of AS, on the other hand, can benefit from addition of simple radiographic and MR images. Chapters devoted to infections and sarcoidosis are another good example of a detailed description with simplicity.
With primary care physicians being top of the list of the intended audience of this book, the chapter on OA can benefit from a more detailed discussion of this common rheumatological problem. Also, a brief account on inflammatory OA and its management in this section can be a relevant addition.
The chapter on osteoporosis covers the subject in good depth and pays due attention to the guidelines and indications of newer therapies e.g. teriperatide. The absence of separate discussion about Paget's disease does seem to have left a lacuna behind. Likewise, with the addition of topics like osteomalacia and rickets, the book will look even more complete and comprehensive.
Chapters on myths and pearls and complementary therapies analyse the subject objectively and realistically with a concise review of evidence for and against them. Chapters on rheumatic manifestations of systemic disease and of malignancy, red eye and hearing loss tackle the overlap of the specialities beautifully. Similarly, the chapter on injuries from running gives a flavour of sports medicine. Rheumatology also has a significant overlap with dermatology, which has been addressed in relevant chapters like with SLE, dermatomyositis and scleroderma; however, a separate chapter addressing this issue will be a nice addition as suggested by other reviews [1]. Similarly, section on stepwise treatment and management options for pain can be a useful addition.
Reviewing it as a trainee I find that this book covers most of the topics in enough details suitable for its size. The biggest strengths of this book are its readability and clinically orientated approach. The topics covered in this book range from the most basic, e.g. history taking and examination to the most specialist, e.g. biologic therapies which makes it equally useful to the students, primary care doctors and hospital physicians. It can serve as a very good initial text for trainees beginning their careers in rheumatology.
Disclosure statement: The author has declared no conflicts of interest.
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References |
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 Top References |
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- Muller D. Current diagnosis and treatment in rheumatology. JAMA (2007) 298:463–5.
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