doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2012.04045.x Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 42, 1299 BOOK REVIEW © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd ‘Allergy (4th Edition)’ edited by Holgate ST, Church MK, Broide DH, Martinez FD Published by Elsevier Saunders, 2012 ISBN 978-0-723-43658-4 I was pleased to see the new 4th edition of this book. It was originally published in 1993 and has since become a popular source of reference for physicians as well as allied health professionals such as specialist nurses and dieticians in the field of adult and paediatric allergy. On the whole the volume is clinically orientated, but there are adequate summaries of, and references to more detailed reading about basic research and mechanisms of the immunology underlying allergic diseases. A glossary of terms is provided in the appendix. The book covers the entire spectrum of knowledge of allergic disease, starting with basic mechanisms, the genetic basis of allergy and asthma and theories about early life origins of allergy and asthma as well as epidemiology. There is also a section about the nature and measurement of airborne aller- gens and pollutants. There are general chapters on the principles of allergy diagnosis, pharmacotherapy and allergen immunotherapy. There are then chapters devoted to asthma, allergic rhinitis and rhinosinusitis, allergic conjunctivitis, urticaria and angioedema, atopic dermatitis and contact hypersensitivity, food allergy and other gastrointestinal syndromes, occupational allergy, drug allergy, the management of anaphylaxis, paediatric allergy, investigation of blood eosinophilia and a final section on systemic mastocytosis. The authors have adopted the principle of asking at least two authors of international repute to contribute to the contents of each chapter. This has produced a more authoritative and international text. The chapters are very well illustrated with full colour diagrams, photomicrographs and clinical pictures. There is generous use of tables and diagrams elucidating diagnostic pathways, listing specific clinical recommen- dations and summarising important messages. There is no formal bibliography but suggestions for further reading are provided at the end of each chapter. Overall this is a very accessible book and performs precisely as intended: that is, it is a handy and authoritative source of reference for a wide range of individu- als involved in allergy healthcare and research. It will prove invaluable to medical and other allied health pro- fessional trainees working in the field of clinical allergy, as well as clinical scientists and basic research- ers who may wish for broader based background knowledge of the clinical aspects of allergic disease. It is a concise, up-to-date, authoritative and well laid out account of the management of the complete spectrum of allergic diseases. Warmly recommended. CHRIS CORRIGAN Guy’s Hospital, King’s College London School of Medicine

‘Allergy (4th Edition)’ edited by Holgate ST, Church MK, Broide DH, Martinez FD

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doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2012.04045.x Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 42, 1299

‘Allergy (4th Edition)’ edited by Holgate ST, Church MK, Broide DH,Martinez FD

Published by Elsevier Saunders, 2012ISBN 978-0-723-43658-4

I was pleased to see the new 4th edition of this book. Itwas originally published in 1993 and has since become apopular source of reference for physicians as well asallied health professionals such as specialist nurses anddieticians in the field of adult and paediatric allergy. Onthe whole the volume is clinically orientated, but thereare adequate summaries of, and references to moredetailed reading about basic research and mechanisms ofthe immunology underlying allergic diseases. A glossaryof terms is provided in the appendix. The book covers theentire spectrum of knowledge of allergic disease, startingwith basic mechanisms, the genetic basis of allergy andasthma and theories about early life origins of allergyand asthma as well as epidemiology. There is also a sec-tion about the nature and measurement of airborne aller-gens and pollutants. There are general chapters on theprinciples of allergy diagnosis, pharmacotherapy andallergen immunotherapy. There are then chaptersdevoted to asthma, allergic rhinitis and rhinosinusitis,allergic conjunctivitis, urticaria and angioedema, atopicdermatitis and contact hypersensitivity, food allergy andother gastrointestinal syndromes, occupational allergy,drug allergy, the management of anaphylaxis, paediatricallergy, investigation of blood eosinophilia and a final

section on systemic mastocytosis. The authors haveadopted the principle of asking at least two authors ofinternational repute to contribute to the contents of eachchapter. This has produced a more authoritative andinternational text.

The chapters are very well illustrated with full colourdiagrams, photomicrographs and clinical pictures. Thereis generous use of tables and diagrams elucidatingdiagnostic pathways, listing specific clinical recommen-dations and summarising important messages. There isno formal bibliography but suggestions for furtherreading are provided at the end of each chapter.

Overall this is a very accessible book and performsprecisely as intended: that is, it is a handy and authori-tative source of reference for a wide range of individu-als involved in allergy healthcare and research. It willprove invaluable to medical and other allied health pro-fessional trainees working in the field of clinicalallergy, as well as clinical scientists and basic research-ers who may wish for broader based backgroundknowledge of the clinical aspects of allergic disease. Itis a concise, up-to-date, authoritative and well laid outaccount of the management of the complete spectrumof allergic diseases. Warmly recommended.

CHRIS CORRIGANGuy’s Hospital, King’s College London School of Medicine