Immunopharmacology: Principles and perspectives

Book review Immunopharmacology: Principles and perspectives Jergen Drews, author. Berlin-Heidelberg, 1990, Springer-Verlag, 355 pp. In the rapidly changing world of immunology, there is a great need to keep a perspective on the pharmacologic approachto the managementof immunologic disorders. Several books have attempted to achieve this goal but often fall short by emphasizing basic immunology. This book briefly summarizesbasic immunologic principles in the first chapter. This section is well written and accompaniedby an adequatenumber of illustrative figures to summarize key points. The author choosesto categorize the pharmacologic approach to treatment into four broad groups: antibodies or immunosubstitution (animal and human immunoglobulins and monoclonal antibodies), immunosuppressives,antiallergic drugs (immediate hypersensitivity), and immunostimulants (endogenous, microbial origin, and synthetic). Each group is addressedin a separatechapter with a final chapter providing a clinical assessmentand perspective. The presentation is very concise and easy to read. This is a single author text; therefore, the format is consistent. There is a focus on mechanisms,chemical structure, concepts, and clinical applications. The amount of specific data on clinical studies is very

limited. One disturbing feature is that the references are not inserted in the text but are tabulated at the end of the book and listed according to chapter. This makes it difficult for the reader to identify key referencesassociatedwith a relevant statement.At times the text is cumbersomeand doesnot lead to a succinct conclusion. The major focus of clinical conditions includes bone marrow and solid organ transplantation, autoimmune disorders, acquired and congenital immune deficiency, and cancer. There is limited information on immunologic disorders frequently presenting to the practicing allergist, for example asthma, urticaria, and collagen vascular disease.The material is most pertinent to those dealing with the disorders previously mentioned. It would serve as a useful resource for training programswith a focus on clinical immunology, specifically, immune deficiency and transplantation. The organized and concise presentation also makeit a useful resourcefor thosewho would like an orientation to the developing field of immunophatmacology. S. .I. Szefler, MD DepartmeEt of Pediatrics National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine 1400 Jackson St. Denver, CO 80206

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