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Book Review
Rheumatology, 3rd edition, Volumes 1 and 2. Marc C. Hochberg, MD, MPH, Alan J Silman, MSc, MD, FMedSci, Josef S. Smolen, MD, Michael E. Weinblatt, MD, Michael H. Weisman, MD, editors, Edinburgh, Toronto: 2003, Elsevier, 2364 pages, $499.00 US. This third edition of the textbook Rheumatology continues to be a most valuable and definitive text for rheumatologists and rheumatology trainees. In its expansive 2364 pages, in 17 well laid out sections, this text has improved over the last edition in terms of organization and content. Something as simple as the change to ordinal numbers has made it easy to index and find the area of interest to the reader. The size of the lettering in the index, however, requires bifocals and a magnifying glass for those of us over fifty. The sections are more cohesive: an example is the section on regional and widespread pain, which is a result of amalgamating 3 sections from the last edition. Practical problems have in this way been eliminated and appropriately incorporated throughout the text. The chapters are edited and presented with clarity. The text, photographic and x-ray images, tables, and algorithms continue to be of outstanding quality. For those who prefer it, the CD-ROM is an added benefit. In terms of content, there is increased emphasis on the history of rheumatic disorders, epidemiological concepts, principles of health outcomes and economics, newer classification of rheumatic disorders, imaging techniques, and the scientific basis of rheumatic disorders. This text is detailed and comprehensive, and covers the gamut of rheumatology including recent advances in genetics, immunology, tissue destruction and repair, and inflammation. The text also includes reference to the expanding role of rehabilitation medicine and the interdisciplinary care of the patient with arthritis. In particular, the therapeutic sections of rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis have been revamped to reflect the newer immunotherapies in practice, as well as emerging new therapies. This textbook is a must for libraries, academic clinicians, educators, and students of rheumatology. As with any text, the references and material reflect the date of publication and no doubt a fourth edition will soon be a work in progress. Rachel Shupak, MD, FRCPC, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada |