A Clinicians Pearls And Myths in Rheumatology

Important strides have been made in understanding the pathophysiologic basis of many inflammatory conditions in recent years, but rheumatology remains a discipline in which diagnosis is rooted in the medical history skillfully extracted from the patient, the careful physical examination, and the discriminating use of laboratory tests and imaging. Moreover, selection of the most appropriate therapy for patients with rheumatic diseases also remains heavily reliant upon clinical experience. Medical disciplines such as rheumatology that depend significantly upon clinical wisdom are prone to the development of systems of ‘Pearls’ and ‘Myths,’ related to the diseases they call their own, a ‘Pearl’ being a nugget of truth about the diagnosis or treatment of a particular disease that has been gained by dint of clinical experience and a ‘Myth’ being a commonly held belief that influences the practice of many clinicians – but is false. This book will pool together the clinical wisdom of seasoned, expert rheumatologists who participate in the care of patients with autoimmune diseases, systemic inflammatory disorders, and all other rheumatic conditions.

A Clinician's Pearls and Myths in Rheumatology is a rich assemblage of the clinical wisdom of expert rheumatologists from a whole range of specialties and nationalities. It examines the nuggets of wisdom, or ‘pearls’ gained from collective clinical experience about the diagnosis or treatment of various diseases whilst also aiming to debunk certain myths that have influenced the practice of many clinicians but have proven false.

The pithy style of writing ensures that the reader thoroughly enjoys delving into this trove of diagnostic and therapeutic guidance. In addition, an abundance of illustrations, including 300 clinical photographs, significantly augments the reader’s understanding of these ‘pearls’.

With contributions from 126 authors across the various subspecialties in rheumatology, and comprising a total of more than 1400 Pearls and Myths, this book truly provides the corpus of current clinical wisdom in rheumatology.

Dr John H. Stone, MD MPH is Clinical Director of Rheumatology at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. He has pioneered a great deal of clinical research in rheumatology, particularly in the area of systemic vasculitis.