Using illustrative case examples, this book thoroughly reviews similarities and differences between asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the overlap syndrome. It is important to highlight the distinctions because these commonly encountered conditions in respiratory and primary care share many similarities but have important differences often mistaken for each other. This can have serious implications for treatment, particularly as new treatments are targeted at specific phenotypes of the diseases. This practical guide shows how to distinguish between the diseases on a pathological and clinical basis so that appropriate management and treatment may be pursued.
Dr. Jonathan A. Bernstein is professor of clinical medicine in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Immunology/Allergy
Section at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and director of clinical research for the Division of Immunology. He is the
director of clinical research at the University of Cincinnati and is a Drug Information Association (DIA)-certified investigator. He has
extensive experience conducting multicenter and physician-initiated clinical therapeutic trials related to asthma, chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease, rhinitis, urticaria, hereditary, and angiotensin-converting enzymeinduced angioedema. He has published over 165
peer-reviewed articles and clinical reviews, and 35 chapters on a variety of relevant topics in allergy and clinical immunology. Dr.
Bernstein is actively involved in the University of Cincinnati Allergy Fellowship Training Program and in the education of residents and
medical students. He is a member of the board of directors for the American Academy of Asthma, Allergy, and Immunology. He is the
editor-in-chief of the Journal of Asthma and on the editorial board of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Annals of Allergy,
Asthma and Immunology, Allergy Asthma Proceedings, and Journal of Angioedema. Dr. Bernstein has been voted “best doctor” in
Cincinnati from 1999 to 2013 and ranked by U.S. News and World Report as being in the top 1% of doctors in his specialty. He is a
member of the University of Cincinnati Alpha Omega Alpha chapter.
Dr. Michael E. Wechsler is Director of the Asthma Program in the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine and Professor
of Medicine for National Jewish Health in Denver, CO. He also serves as Faculty Member for the Program in Placebo Studies at
Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA, and is on the Steering Committee of the (National Institutes of Health) NIH's Asthma Clinical
Research Network. He earned an AB in Biochemical Sciences magna cum laude from Harvard College, his medical degree from
McGill University in Montreal, and Masters in Medical Science from Harvard Medical School.
