Antiphospholipid syndrome is an autoimmune disease that causes abnormal blood clots. It is now recognized as a major cause of common conditions, including stroke, heart attack, miscarriage, epilepsy and memory loss and as such is gaining recognition in all branches of medicine, from obstetrics to cardiology, from psychiatry to orthopedics. This book provides an overview of our current understanding of this major disease. It includes the latest information on the new pathogenetic mechanisms involved as well as clinical manifestations in both “the thrombotic and “non-thrombotic manifestations of this important disease. Comprehensive review of this major disease Includes information on treatment options available

Systemic autoimmune diseases can affect both the central and peripheral nervous systems in a myriad of ways and through a heterogeneous number of mechanisms leading to many different clinical manifestations. As a result, neurological complications of these disorders can result in significant morbidity and mortality. Advances in the diagnosis, laboratory investigations, and management of these conditions has placed an increasing burden on the practicing clinician to correctly assess and treat these patients.This volume of the Handbook of the Systemic Autoimmune Diseases will help the clinician and researcher better understand the current concepts of nervous system involvement from systemic autoimmune disorders, recognize current approaches to diagnosis and treatment, current controversies, and areas that need significant research efforts. It is believed that providing this approach in a single volume will facilitate its use as a frequent resource for all those caring for or investigating these patients and their diseases.Each chapter follows a consistent outline to provide the reader with important and useful information in an easy-to-navigate manner and is also liberally referenced to provide more primary source material for further consideration. The standardized approach to each chapter will allow the reader to be able to compare and contrast more efficiently the neurological complications of the autoimmune diseases discussed.

Many of the systemic autoimmune diseases seen in children are different from those seen in adults making them a special problem for physicians and scientists who care for the affected children and study their diseases. Benefiting both pediatric and adult rheumatologists, as well as physicians from other specialties, this volume covers the latest advances in pathogenesis and clinical management of common conditions seen in pediatric rheumatology practices.

Not too long ago, it was thought that inflammation of blood vessels was the sole manifestation of systemic autoimmune diseases. Today, however, we know that disorders of coagulation, injuries to both neutrophils and endothelial cells, and certain lipids and amino acids are all intricately involved in the development of vascular disease. How are all

The Lung in Autoimmune Diseases, Volume Seventeen identifies and describes the role of the lung in the most common systemic autoimmune diseases. From disease patterns, prognosis and risks to treatment, this book provides a comprehensive approach for the role of the lung in autoimmune diseases and the influence of autoimmune disease on the lung's functionality. In recent years, there is increasing knowledge in the field, including lung infection in early disease stages, mechanisms involved in lung damage, and new treatments. Recognition of lung involvement and implementation of some specific therapies is an important issue for clinicians dealing with systemic autoimmune diseases. - Provides a comprehensive review of the different patterns of pulmonary involvement in systemic autoimmune diseases - Describes new, targeted therapies for the treatment of systemic autoimmune diseases, including anti-fibrotics, biologics and vasodilators - Gives insights on the prognosis of patients suffering from systemic autoimmune diseases - Depicts better definitions of types of lung involvement in patients with an underlying systemic autoimmune disease

The Heart in Systemic Autoimmune Diseases, Second Edition, provides an overview on our current understanding of major complications relating to the heart and autoimmune diseases. It includes the latest information on the new pathogenetic mechanisms involved, along with clinical manifestations of these important comortbidities. Mortality in autoimmune diseases, in particular, rheumatoid arthritis and SLE, has increased when compared with the general population. This excess mortality is largely due to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs)-particularly those of atherosclerotic origin, such as ischemic heart disease-and is gaining recognition in all branches of medicine, from cardiology, to internal medicine, and from rheumatologists to orthopedics. - Presents an impressive body of well ordered information on the topic of cardiovascular diseases and their relationship to autoimmune illness - Highlights key references - Summarizes the experience of a selected panel of distinguished physician-scientists who are actively involved in the field of cardiovascular disease and systemic autoimmunity

Surgery in Systemic Autoimmune Disease, Volume 15, describes the state-of-the-art of the use of surgery in treating the most common systemic autoimmune diseases (SADS). The volume consists of an introductory chapter concerning the impact of surgery on SADs, follow by eight chapters describing the use of surgery in the treatment of specific diseases in various areas (cardiology, gastroenterology, orthopedics, neurology. etc.) and the possible difficulties and complications. The final five chapters deal with the possible complications arising during the course of biological and non-biological treatment, also providing recommendation concerning their management. International in scope, the list of more than 20 contributors from Europa and America reads like a who's who of clinical researchers in the field. - Written by leading international clinical/surgical and scientific experts on surgical problems in SADs - Provides a practical guide to the safer use of surgery in patients with autoimmune diseases - Includes a number of problems and recommendations that cannot be found in other books - Designed as a 'guide to clinical practice' for surgical interventions required by patients with SADs - Gives a comprehensive review of the available surgical options

This volume of the Handbook of Systemic Autoimmune Diseases series represents a medical collaboration focusing primarily on female aspects of rheumatic diseases. This collaboration recognizes the need to understand and optimally manage the care of women with autoimmune conditions that may affect their reproduction and hormonal status. This handbook will prove useful to clinicians and researchers alike. It covers practical points, ranging from which anti-rheumatic medications are safe in pregnancy to how to counsel women with scleroderma contemplating pregnancy. * Authors share an academic interest in the unique relationship between being a woman and having an autoimmune disease * Touches on controversial topics, such as the mechanism of antiphospholipid-related fetal loss and whether or not non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents should be used in pregnancy * Includes critical and balanced reviews of the controversial association between autoimmune disease and female infertility

Systemic autoimmune diseases are a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by humoral and cell-mediated immune responses against various self-constituents. In specific cases, the heart and cardiovascular (CV) system are the primary organs targeted by the disease. On the other hand, several systemic autoimmune conditions are linked to enhanced atherosclerosis, with a consequently high CV morbidity and mortality rates. Persistent low-grade inflammation in the vascular wall is described to be important in the physiopathology of CV events. At first, inflammation is linked to endothelial dysfunction supporting the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells with subsequent vascular remodeling. Furthermore, the infiltration of innate and adaptive immune cells promotes a milieu of molecules that contributes to the perpetuation of inflammation itself. Although CV risk assessment should be part of routine care in patients with autoimmune diseases, no disease-specific models are currently available for this purpose. The main pillars of CV risk reduction are pharmacological and nonpharmacological management of cardiovascular CV risk factors, as well as tight control of disease activity.

This new edition is a comprehensive and updated resource on antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), which is an autoimmune disorder. In APS, the body recognizes certain normal components of blood and/or cell membranes as foreign substances and produces antibodies (antiphospholipid antibodies) against them. APS is associated with recurrent clotting events (thrombosis) including premature stroke, repeated miscarriages, phlebitis, venous thrombosis, and pulmonary thromboembolism. It is also associated with low platelet or blood elements that prevent bleeding. Recently, however, even more disease states have been linked with APS, including premature heart attack, various cardiac valvular abnormalities, skin lesions, kidney disease, abnormal involuntary movement/chorea, diseases that mimic multiple sclerosis, and vascular diseases of the eye that can lead to visual loss and blindness. The International Congress on Antiphospholipid Antibodies, held every 3 years, is the venue where representatives from different disciplines gather to discuss the recent advances in APS. The conference intends to cover basic aspects of APS, such as pathogenesis, origins, genetics, intracellular and molecular events, the role of infections, as well as traditional and non-traditional clinical manifestations associated with antiphospholipid antibodies. The 15th Congress took place in September 2016. A novel aspect of the Congress was that multiple teams, chaired by Scientific Planning Committee members, used evidence-based literature reviews and expert discussions to answer specific pre-defined APS-related questions. These teams included points of view from experts in rheumatology, hematology, cardiovascular medicine, obstetrics, neurology, and immunology. The Scientific Planning Committee members also chaired the congress sessions and supervised completion of the reports that are the bases of the chapters of this book. In addition, there are two chapters included specifically written for APS patients. Much like the previous volume, dedicated to the 13th International Congress on Antiphospholipid Antibodies (April 2010), this up-to-date and comprehensive work gathers invaluable insights from a multidisciplinary team of world-renowned experts and represents the authoritative resource on causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of APS.​​