Autoimmune Endocrinopathies

Dr. Robert Volpé and his distinguished contributors comprehensively review the latest thinking about the theoretical, experimental, and clinical aspects of autoimmune endocrine disorders. These world-renowned experts examine the pathogenesis and immunogenetics of these diseases, discuss the role of sex hormones in autoimmunity, and elucidate the nature of autoantigens. They also provide clinical detail on a wide variety of autoimmune endocrinopathies, including autoimmune thyroid disease, Graves' ophthalmopathy and dermopathy, human insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, and autoimmune adrenocortical failure. Postpartum autoimmune endocrine syndromes, autoimmune hypophysitis, and the polyglandular autoimmune syndromes are also discussed in detail. Comprehensive and authoritative, Autoimmune Endocrinopathies provides today's most up-to-date understanding of the etiology and pathogenesis of autoimmune endocrine diseases.

This is a comprehensive and novel text that examines key features that predispose individuals to autoimmune diseases. The first section details the basic mechanism of autoimmunity and examines immunogenetic and environmental factors in autoimmunity. The next section examines autoimmune thyroid disease. The third section takes a look at Type 1 diabetes mellitus. In the final section, authors explain other autoimmune endocrinopathies.

Autoimmunity is the most common cause of endocrine disorders. This volume provides an up-to-date summary of recent advances in this important field. In addition, it describes developments in our understanding of conditions such as vitiligo and pernicious anaemia which are frequently associated with autoimmune endocrinopathies. There is a detailed review of animal models of endocrine disease which have contributed greatly to current knowledge. Furthermore, the aetiology, pathogenesis and treatment of the clinical disorders are discussed in depth. The book will be of interest to anyone working in the areas of endocrinology and immunology.

The present monograph will concern itself with those disorders of the endocrine system, either associated with destruction, interference with function or hyper function, which are considered to be due to auto-immune processes. Endocrinopathies Non-endocrine auto-immune disorders associated with the endocrinopathies Graves' (Basedow's, Parry's) disease Pernicious anaemia Hashimoto's thyroiditis Vitiligo Idiopathic Addison's disease Myaesthenia gravis Insulinopenic diabetes mellitus Sjogren's syndrome Auto-immune oophoritis and orchitis Rheumatoid arthritis Auto-immune hypoparathyroidism Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura Auto-immune hypophysitis Chronic active hepatitis Possibly some cases of infertility Primary biliary cirrhosis due to anti-sperm antibodies Reproduced with permission from Volpe (1977) The above table indicates those organ-specific endocrinopathies considered to be due to auto-immune factors, as well as those non-endocrine, organ-specific auto-immune disorders which may be associated with them (Volpe 1977). It is evident that such disorders, occurring without any obvious external cause, raise the very elementary question of how immune processes directed against self constituents could be initiated. Generally, of course, the immune system acts as a regulatory and defence mechanism, and disorders of auto-immunity represent breakdowns in this regulatory system. The following chapters will be concerned with the individual components ofthe endocrine system so affected by auto-immune processes; it will first be necessary to provide an initial chapter for the purpose of summarizing some general principles of immunology, in order to place the immune disorders of the endocrine system in context.

This classic text, one of the true anchors of our clinical genetics publishing program, covers over 700 different genetic syndromes involving the head and neck, and it has established itself as the definitive, comprehensive work on the subject. The discussion covers the phenotype spectrum, epidemiology, mode of inheritance, pathogenesis, and clinical profile of each condition, all of which is accompanied by a wealth of illustrations. The authors are recognized leaders in the field, and their vast knowledge and strong clinical judgment will help readers make sense of this complex and burgeoning field. Dr. Gorlin retires as editor in this edition and co-editor Raoul Hennekam takes over. Dr. Hennekam is regarded as one of the top dysmorphologists--and indeed one of the top clinical geneticists--in the world. Judith Allanson is new to the book but is a veteran OUP author and a widely respected geneticist, and Ian Krantz at Penn is a rising star in the field. Dr. Gorlin's name has always been closely associated with the book, and it has now become part of the title. As in all fields of genetics, there has been an explosion in the genetics of dysmorphology syndromes, and the author has undertaken a complete updating of all chapters in light of the discoveries of the Human Genome Project and other ongoing advances, with some chapters requiring complete rewriting. Additional material has been added both in terms of new syndromes and in updating information on existing syndromes. The book will appeal to clinical geneticists, pediatricians, neurologists, head and neck surgeons, otolarynologists, and dentists. The 4th edition, which published in 2001, has sold 2,600 copies.

This issue of the Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinics of North America is an exceptionally unique and very valuable addition to the literature. It covers the subject of organ transplant and how it affects and is affected by endocrine disorders. Diabetes and the metabolic syndrome are covered most thoroughly, with topics such as diabetes mellitus after solid organ transplant, immunosuppressive agents and glucose metabolism, glycemic control in patients with post-transplant diabetes mellitus, pancreas-kidney and pancreas transplant for treatment of diabetes, pancreatic islet cell transplant for treatment of diabetes, preemptive kidney transplant in patients with diabetes, use of insulin sensitizers in NASH, cardiac allograft vasculopathy and the metabolic syndrome. Other topics included are post-transplant osteoporosis, calcium and bone metabolism pre- and post-kidney transplantation, and interferon treatment and thyroid dysfunction.