Foreword
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Foreword Clinical rheumatology can only advance hand in hand with laboratory science. In compiling this volume of Bailli~re's Clinical Rheumatology, which is devoted to biochemical aspects of rheumatic diseases, we have sought to bring clinicians and scientists together. The authors have been drawn almost equally from both disciplines. Recent advances in biochemistry have sometimes been eclipsed by simul- taneous advances in immunology and genetics. We hope that this volume will help to redress the balance. Our knowledge of the structural bio- chemistry of cartilage may not change quickly but collagen and proteo- glycans have been brought vividly to life by the fluid writing of Drs Robins and Lohmander respectively. In these chapters, the authors have sought to relate science to clinical implications and advances. An update on bone structure and metabolism from Professor Mbuyi-Muamba and colleagues follows a similar theme and Professor Bjelle has extended this to provide a biochemically orientated account of crystals in joints. Although some diagnostic techniques are confined to certain specialized academic centres, we have tempered this by including practical chapters on routine clinical biochemistry for rheumatologists from Dr Lunec and biochemical markers of disease activity from Dr Brahn. Dr Roberts has reviewed the biochemical interface with immunology in inflammatory processes, and the often neglected but extremely important topic of renal biochemistry in rheumatic diseases is covered comprehensively by Dr Turney and Professor Cooper who attempt to unravel disease induced and drug induced changes. The comprehensive reviews of the scientific ground already gained are leavened by more speculative contributions that will, we hope, provoke thought and lead to further study. Drs Rudge and Perrett review the biochemistry of second-line drug action and Dr Neumann considers bio- chemical aspects of infection in rheumatology. At a stage when new drugs are being produced that might modify the course of rheumatoid arthritis, a condition linked increasingly with infective agents, we hope that these chapters will prove timely. We have been very grateful to all our contributors who have given up much of their time to produce their chapters speedily and efficiently. For the Editors it has been a thoroughly enjoyable and enlightening experience. JONATHAN DIXON HOWARD BIRD
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Transcript of Foreword
Foreword
Clinical rheumatology can only advance hand in hand with laboratory science. In compiling this volume of Bailli~re's Clinical Rheumatology, which is devoted to biochemical aspects of rheumatic diseases, we have sought to bring clinicians and scientists together. The authors have been drawn almost equally from both disciplines.
Recent advances in biochemistry have sometimes been eclipsed by simul- taneous advances in immunology and genetics. We hope that this volume will help to redress the balance. Our knowledge of the structural bio- chemistry of cartilage may not change quickly but collagen and proteo- glycans have been brought vividly to life by the fluid writing of Drs Robins and Lohmander respectively. In these chapters, the authors have sought to relate science to clinical implications and advances. An update on bone structure and metabolism from Professor Mbuyi-Muamba and colleagues follows a similar theme and Professor Bjelle has extended this to provide a biochemically orientated account of crystals in joints. Although some diagnostic techniques are confined to certain specialized academic centres, we have tempered this by including practical chapters on routine clinical biochemistry for rheumatologists from Dr Lunec and biochemical markers of disease activity from Dr Brahn. Dr Roberts has reviewed the biochemical interface with immunology in inflammatory processes, and the often neglected but extremely important topic of renal biochemistry in rheumatic diseases is covered comprehensively by Dr Turney and Professor Cooper who attempt to unravel disease induced and drug induced changes.
The comprehensive reviews of the scientific ground already gained are leavened by more speculative contributions that will, we hope, provoke thought and lead to further study. Drs Rudge and Perrett review the biochemistry of second-line drug action and Dr Neumann considers bio- chemical aspects of infection in rheumatology. At a stage when new drugs are being produced that might modify the course of rheumatoid arthritis, a condition linked increasingly with infective agents, we hope that these chapters will prove timely.
We have been very grateful to all our contributors who have given up much of their time to produce their chapters speedily and efficiently. For the Editors it has been a thoroughly enjoyable and enlightening experience.
JONATHAN DIXON HOWARD BIRD
