Pediatrics in Systemic Autoimmune Diseases

Pediatrics in Systemic Autoimmune Diseases, Second Edition,

The care of children with systemic autoimmune diseases is moving forward at a rapid pace. The systemic autoimmune diseases of childhood have always represented a special problem for the physicians and scientists who care for the affected children and study their diseases. Some conditions, such as Kawasaki disease, are virtually unique to childhood, while systemic lupus erythematosus, progressive systemic sclerosis, and juvenile onset spondyloarthropathies may be thought of as the early onset of the same disease which is seen in adults. The autoinflammatory disorders appear to be of clear genetic origin, accounting for their frequent discovery in childhood. For many other conditions, such as juvenile dermatomyositis, the relationship between the conditions seen in children and that seen in adults is less certain. This book explores these phenomena, giving users a foundation on which to understand certain diseases.

• Includes completely updated chapters and five new chapters
• Explains the differences in systemic autoimmune diseases seen in children vs. those seen in adults
• Covers the latest advances in pathogenesis and clinical management of common conditions seen in pediatric rheumatology practices, benefiting both pediatric and adult rheumatologists, as well as physicians from other specialties
• Brings the reader up-to-date and allows easy access to individual topics in one place
• Provides the latest information available in a format that would give the clinician both a clear understanding of what has been done in the past and a scientific basis for deciding what to do for the next afflicted child in their care