Arthritis and Allied Conditions: A Textbook of Rheumatology - 2 Volume Set, 15th Edition Doody's Expert Review Review Questionnaire ISBN: 9780781746717 ISBN-10: 078174671X Copyright: 2005 Edition: 15th Editors: Koopman, William J., Moreland, Larry W., Doody's Expert Review    Score: 88 Doody's Star Rating™ and Doody's Expert Review provide by Doody Enterprises, Inc. Reviewer: Rebecca Shepherd,  MD  (Washington University School of Medicine) Description This is the fifteenth edition of a comprehensive textbook of rheumatology that serves as an excellent reference for all rheumatologists. The content is expansive, covering basic disease mechanisms, pathology and treatment of disease, and new innovations in the field since the last edition. Purpose The purpose is to provide a complete reference for specialists with coverage of basic mechanisms, diagnosis, and treatment of rheumatologic disease. The objectives are inclusive and the authors meet their goals. Audience The audience is the rheumatology community, both trainee and practitioner. Features The two-volume book covers the basic approach to a rheumatology patient; the science behind rheumatic diseases; and both medical and surgical approaches to rheumatic diseases, incorporating nicely the new drug choice of biologics. The subsequent chapters examine diseases more carefully by etiology. The book is excellent and easy to read. The illustrations, however, are not up to par. The illustration of methotrexate metabolism, for example, is poorly laid out and difficult to follow. Assessment This is an excellent reference for any rheumatologist. It is on a par with other major texts in the field that have been written for the similar purpose of providing a reference. This edition is certainly needed as the field of rheumatology, both diagnosis and treatment, is moving swiftly. Review Questionnaire Range Question Score 1-10 Are the author's objectives met? 10 1-10 Rate the worthiness of those objectives. 10 1-5 Is this written at an appropriate level? 5 1-5 Is there significant duplication? (1=significant, 5=insignificant) 5 1-5 Are there significant omissions? (1=significant, 5=insignificant) 5 1-5 Rate the authority of the authors. 5 1-5 Are there sufficient illustrations? 3 1-5 Rate the pedagogic value of the illustrations. 2 1-5 Rate the print quality of the illustrations. 2 1-5 Are there sufficient references? 5 1-5 Rate the currency of the references. 4 1-5 Rate the pertinence of the references. 4 1-5 Rate the helpfulness of the index. 4 1-5 If important in this specialty, rate the physical appearance of the book 4 1-10 Is this a worthwhile contribution to the field? 10 1-10 If this is a 2nd or later edition, is this new edition needed? 10 ©2013 Doody Enterprises, Inc.