Overview

Pathology and Pathobiology of Rheumatic Diseases glows with the uncommon precision of the pathologist, the clarity of the tea- cher, and the unswerving commitment of the investigator. Fass- bender has produced a major contribution to the literature of rheumatic diseases. The practical experience and wisdom brought together in this book, substantiated by excellent exam- ples of histopathology, produce a landmark for all who have made the study of rheumatic diseases their profession. The enor- mous achievements made in molecular biology, genetics, struc- tural biochemistry, and clinical science have been assembled in this book to interact in a meaningful way with the anatomical histology of the rheumatic diseases. It is not easy for any single investigator to paint the picture of a disease process, from its clinical description to its mechanisms, and then to a defined hypothesis, and finally an understanding. Nonetheless, Fassbender has done this in a clear and convincing way that integrates our current knowledge of this group of dis- eases. Scientific discovery in medicine moves from the bedside to the bench, back to the bedside, and then back to the bench, etc. It is this iterative process of new observation and new discovery that has given us the achievements in medicine over the past century.