2004 Oxford University Press
The third edition of the Oxford Textbook of Rheumatology sets out to capture the excitement evident to most rheumatologists as the bench to bedside? concept genuinely delivers new drugs for the treatment of rheumatic diseases. Although we have endeavoured to keep the best ideas and section layout of the first two editions, the pace of change in methods of assessment, our understanding of immunopathology, and imaging have demanded many changes to this edition. Most obviously we now welcome Ferdinand Breedveld as the fifth editor. Ferdinand brings us a wealth of experience as a clinician-scientist who reflects the growing importance of Europe as the source of ideas and clinical trials in rheumatology. As in the second edition, we have had a tuover of some 25 per cent of chapter authors to try and capture the best possible selection of leaders in their field and those who deliver their chapters on time!
This third edition provides a new section on health outcomes in the rheumatic diseases ranging widely from rehabilitation to problems with sexuality and the economics of caring for patients with arthritis. The chapters on vasculitides have been significantly revised and there are new chapters on the problems of adolescence macrophage activation syndrome and management issues in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Many chapters have sections examining the use of the new biological therapies and we have encouraged more management algorithms.
However, we do not see the need to make this textbook ever larger in size. The availability of the inteet to most rheumatologists makes vast reference lists unnecessary. However, we have aimed to provide rather more than a mere shortlist of advised reading. Our authors have been asked to quote key and around 100 useful overview references per chapter.
We believe the Oxford Textbook of Rheumatology has an established place in world rheumatology and hope that this third edition will be a welcome and timely addition to the library of those training in rheumatology, established rheumatologists, and scientists interested in the subject.
Finally, we wish to pay tribute to Barbara Ansell who died recently. She truly put paediatric rheumatology on the map and made several contributions to the first and second editions. She influenced our decision to make the difference in rheumatological diseases as they present in different age groups a major feature of this textbook.
The Editors also wish to acknowledge the outstanding contribution of Peter Renton who died, prematurely, during the production of this edition.
The third edition of the Oxford Textbook of Rheumatology sets out to capture the excitement evident to most rheumatologists as the bench to bedside? concept genuinely delivers new drugs for the treatment of rheumatic diseases. Although we have endeavoured to keep the best ideas and section layout of the first two editions, the pace of change in methods of assessment, our understanding of immunopathology, and imaging have demanded many changes to this edition. Most obviously we now welcome Ferdinand Breedveld as the fifth editor. Ferdinand brings us a wealth of experience as a clinician-scientist who reflects the growing importance of Europe as the source of ideas and clinical trials in rheumatology. As in the second edition, we have had a tuover of some 25 per cent of chapter authors to try and capture the best possible selection of leaders in their field and those who deliver their chapters on time!
This third edition provides a new section on health outcomes in the rheumatic diseases ranging widely from rehabilitation to problems with sexuality and the economics of caring for patients with arthritis. The chapters on vasculitides have been significantly revised and there are new chapters on the problems of adolescence macrophage activation syndrome and management issues in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Many chapters have sections examining the use of the new biological therapies and we have encouraged more management algorithms.
However, we do not see the need to make this textbook ever larger in size. The availability of the inteet to most rheumatologists makes vast reference lists unnecessary. However, we have aimed to provide rather more than a mere shortlist of advised reading. Our authors have been asked to quote key and around 100 useful overview references per chapter.
We believe the Oxford Textbook of Rheumatology has an established place in world rheumatology and hope that this third edition will be a welcome and timely addition to the library of those training in rheumatology, established rheumatologists, and scientists interested in the subject.
Finally, we wish to pay tribute to Barbara Ansell who died recently. She truly put paediatric rheumatology on the map and made several contributions to the first and second editions. She influenced our decision to make the difference in rheumatological diseases as they present in different age groups a major feature of this textbook.
The Editors also wish to acknowledge the outstanding contribution of Peter Renton who died, prematurely, during the production of this edition.