Drug-induced pulmonary damage is a growing area of interest that represents a major problem for clinicians and pulmonologists as new drugs make it a field in continuous evolution.
Clinical suspicion is the cornerstone of this area where a firm diagnosis is often difficult and, in most cases, the diagnosis is made by exclusion criteria. A book entirely and specifically dedicated to drug-induced and iatrogenic respiratory diseases was needed, and this lack is now overcome by the exhaustive and comprehensive work of Philippe Camus and Edward C. Rosenow. This book discusses all aspects of the manifestations of drug-induced pulmonary damage, from the physiology to the radiological patterns, approaching it drug by drug.
This well-written book has several advantages: it is clear and it develops topics more diffusely and extensively compared to the very useful website www.pneumotox.com, but remains concise.
It is divided into four major parts: general; drug-induced emergencies; oncology and allied conditions; and non-oncological conditions. It contains 30 chapters from classification to imaging, to pulmonary complications of illicit drugs, to therapy-induced neoplasms, to respiratory involvement from herbs, to mention but a few. All the chapters can be consulted in an immediate way and so can be easily considered in day-to-day clinical practice. The book starts with a table that summarises the principal patterns of lung injury and the most frequent drugs responsible for lung damage, discussing high-resolution computed tomography and pathological aspects. Every chapter concludes with the major key points of the topic that outline the principal aspects of the argument discussed. Besides the chapter covering the development of the pulmonary toxicity of methotrexate and amiodarone, there are other chapters that discuss the less common and less well-known toxicities of new drugs, such as biological ones. Drug-induced and Iatrogenic Respiratory Disease is a book to study and to have on your desk to consult when facing doubt or when clinical suspicion arises. This book is also rich in clear images, often illustrating short and very useful clinical cases to support the text.
- ©ERS 2011
