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Seminars in Fetal & Neonatal Medicine 18 (2013) 395
Contents lists avai
Seminars in Fetal & Neonatal Medicine
journal homepage: www.elsevier .com/locate/s iny
Book review
Hematology, Immunology and Infectious Disease. NeonatologyQuestions and Controversies Series, Robin K Ohls, MD and AkhilMaheshwari, MD (Eds.); Richard A Polin, MD (Series Ed.). Elsev-ier, Saunders 2nd ed. (2012). p. 344 ISBN: 978-1-4377-2662-6Price £49.30
This interesting ‘compilation’ of 19 chapters is authored by 37contributors.
Some of the chapters covering the fields of immunology and he-matology are up-to-date reviews of relevant basic science (e.g. onStem Cells [1], Nonhematopoietic Effects of Erythropoietin [4],Maternally Mediated Autoimmunity [10], Dietary Interventions toPrevent Food Hypersensitivity and Allergy [9], and Regulation ofT cell Immunity by Innate Immunity and Dendritic Cells [12]),whilst others are more guidelines-oriented (e.g. on Red Cell Trans-fusions and Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agents [5]) and/or dealwith hands-on, practical approach (e.g. Thrombocytopenia [2],Neutropenia [3, 8], Hemolytic Disease [6], and Coagulation Disor-ders [7]). The infectious disease topics include the interactions ofBreast Milk and Viral Infections [13], Probiotics and NecrotizingEnterocolitis [14], the problems of CMV [11], Ureaplasma [15],Fungal infections [17], Chorioamnionitis [19], as well as the Controlof Antibiotic-Resistance [16] and the Use of Biomarkers [18].
With so many contributors, there are inevitably differences inapproach and writing, but this does not influence the overallimpression of a valuable content. There are, however, 2 commentsI would like to make. The first one is related to the composition ofthe chapters which – tomy liking – is somewhat awkward, so I readthem in the following order: after very useful review on stem cells, Icontinued with T cell part, maternally mediated autoimmunity,
1744-165X/$ – see front matterhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.siny.2013.08.012
cytopaenias (where there is an overlap of chapters 3 and 8), coagul-opathy, erythropoietin, food allergy and than infections leaving thecontrol of antibiotic resistance and biomarkers to the end. However,if the reader is after particular information related to the problemneeding solving ‘now’, this does not matter. The other is the lackof chapters covering primary immunodeficiency disorders, manyof which can manifest in the neonatal period (e.g. severe combinedand T cell immunodeficiencies, Wiskott Aldrich syndrome, LAD-leukocyte adhesion deficiency, IPEX –immuno-deficiency/-dysre-gulation, polyendocrinopathy, enteropathy, X-linked syndrome,early onset colitis due to IL-10/IL-10 receptor deficiency, etc.)with infections and/or autoimmunity as major clinical problems.The early recognition and diagnosis is of major influence to thetreatment outcome (mainly by haematopoietic stem cell transplan-tation or, rarely, gene therapy). As well, there are emerging possibil-ities of national programs (USA, UK) for early/prenatal diagnosis ofsome of these conditions.
In the summary, I would recommend this book packed with in-formation and as a ‘non-neonatologist’ I found the reading andfollowing to be (relatively) easy.
Mario Abinun*
Great North Children’s Hospital,Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK
Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, UK
* Old COPD Building/Offices, Royal Victoria Infirmary, QueenVictoria Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4LP, UK.
E-mail address: [email protected]
