Since the debut of the first edition nearly 40 years ago, Dubois' Lupus Erythematosus has been the preeminent English-language text on systemic and cutaneous lupus. Now in its sixth edition, the work remains an invaluable resource for dermatologists and others who care for patients with lupus and related disorders.
Apart from the inclusion of a new chapter discussing cytokines in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus, the scope of the book has changed little since the previous edition was published 5 years ago, although the editors note in the preface that some 25% of the chapters have new authors or coauthors and that the basic science sections "have generally been completely rewritten and updated" in keeping with recent advances in knowledge. The 64 chapters are grouped into 8 sections, with topics ranging from the history of medical understanding of what today is called lupus erythematosus to the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical and laboratory features, management approaches, and prognosis of the disease. The influence of Daniel Wallace, who has been an editor of the book for the past 2 decades, is apparent from his personal contribution to 15 of the chapters, including the "Patient's Guide to Lupus Erythematosus" written for patients and their families. Three chapters, including 2 coauthored by Richard Sontheimer, specifically discuss in some detail the pathomechanisms, clinical features, and management of lupus involving the skin. Other chapters likely to be of special interest to dermatologists include discussions of drug-induced lupus, the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, and serologic abnormalities associated with lupus, as well as an overview of innovative therapies that may come to play an increasingly common role in the management of the patient with lupus in the next few years.