Therapeutic Immunology

Therapeutic Immunology discusses evolving and established modalities of treatment in both immunologic and systemic diseases. It will be organized by modality (drugs, biologics, maneuvers) and by point of intervention rather than disease, and explain how and why these interventions work in these particular disorders and at various stages on the pathophysiologic process. The authors are considered to be among the ablest people in modern immunology and their support team is equally as impressive. Using a clinical versus theoretical approach, the chapter will be organized similarly as follows: introduction, history of the agent, structure, molecular and cellular basis of action, diseases in which this approach is useful, dosage and treatment, mechanisms of toxicity, and alternative modalities to attack at the point of intervention when the original agent does not work. The contents structure includes an introduction, followed by a section on drugs that includes antimetabolics and radiomimetics, corticosteroids, and anti-inflammatory drugs. Next is a section on Biologics which includes cytokines, macromolecules, antibody-based therapies, immunotherapy of allergic disease, chimeric proteins, and vaccines and peptide-based therapies. The final section covers maneuvers such as radiation, transplantation, cellular therapy, gene therapy, and extracorporeal therapy. This clinical reference will show how immunology has come of age as a clinical discipline and is now able to provide treatment strategies for many previously incurable diseases