Immunologically Mediated Pulmonary Diseases. – book reviews
Georges M. Akoun
IMMUNOLOGICALLY MEDIATED PULMONARY DISEASES. Edited by Joseph P. Lynch III and Richard A. DeRemee. Philadelphia: JB Lippincott, 1991, 547 pp. $118.95
This volume is primarily on interstitial pneumonitis. The editors are among the most well-known experts in this field, having published extensively in the literature. They have pulled together an extensive group of 31 experts to compile the compendium. There are 21 chapters, the first 20 dealing with about 25 clinicopathologic entities, such as pulmonary fibrosis; interstitial pneumonitis of unknown origin, including collagen vascular diseases, vasculitides, granulomatosis, angiitis, and alveolar proteinosis; and six groups of diseases related to the environment (eg, pneumoconiosis and hypersensitivity pneumonitis). All chapters are relevant and clearly divided.
Most chapters contain paragraphs devoted to immunologic pathophysiology and immunopathogenesis. In the last chapter there is information about laboratory techniques for the study of immunologically mediated pulmonary diseases. Probably pneumonitis related to human immunodeficiency virus and other pathogens (Mycobacterium tuberculosis and viruses) has been deliberately excluded as being beyond the scope of this authoritative and well-referenced, up-to-date review of the world literature.
It is to be hoped that future editions will include an introductory chapter dealing with the specificity of immunologic mechanisms involved in lung disorders. Overall, this is an excellent book–the best and the latest review through 1990 of immunologically mediated pulmonary diseases. We recommend it for anyone interested in these conditions. Georges M. Akoun, M.D., F.C.C.P. Jacques L. Cadranel, M.D. Paris
COPYRIGHT 1992 American College of Chest Physicians
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group
