| Abstract/Notes |
We have waited 20 years to write this book,Fortunately,those years have given us the opportunity to gaina deeper understanding of pediatric rheumatology through the experience of our patients and the contributions of our associates. During this period we have also benefited from rafid growth in the understanding of adult rheumatology and an enormous increase in knowledge of fundamental biochemical and immunologic mechanisms of inflammation. Physicians who are actively involve in caring for children aflicted with rheumatic diseases need a single volume that provides the information central to an understanding of pediatric rheumatology and the modern approachers to diagnosis and treatment of such disorders. That has been our goal in writing this book. We have focused on the major rheumatic diseases of childhood; juvenile rheumatoid arthritis,juvenile ankylosing spondylitis, systemic lupus erthematosus,dermatomyositis,scleroderma and systemic vasculitis. We have also included data on numerous other rhematicdiseasesof children and on the clinical entities that appear with rhematic complaints buth which are not rhematic diseases. However, the discussion of these conditions is brief and emphasizes the appropriate differential diagnoses. Because Extensive background information necessary for acomplete understanding of the basic science of rheumatology has been covered in the major rheumatology texs, we have included only a limited discussion of those areas necded for an overview of rheumatologic concepts. |
