The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 271 No 7259 p131
26 July 2003

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A useful and educational book for all those involved with treatment of respiratory disease

'Drugs for the treatment of respiratory disease', edited by Domenico Spina, Clive P. Page, William J. Metzger, Brian J. O'Connor. Pp xii+599. Price £95. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 2003. ISBN 0 521 77321 0

Primarily this book is concerned with the drug management of respiratory diseases. However an interesting feature is that it also covers the pathology and diagnosis of many respiratory disorders. Although the book is clearly divided into six parts, almost half of it concentrates on asthma and chronic obstructive airways disease and the medication to treat them. Since these are the most common respiratory diseases and the drugs are frequently prescribed in practice, this seems appropriate. Asthma and COPD are also areas where there is increased activity in the research of new drugs, and this is covered well in four of the chapters.

An established expert in the field of respiratory medicine writes each chapter of the book. About half of the chapters are written by authors from the United Kingdom and the remainder by North American, Italian and Japanese authors. Although, initially, I felt this might not reflect the treatment guidance offered by the British Thoracic Society, this was not the case, with the advice applicable to an international audience.

Other parts of the book concentrate on a number of topics. It was good to see a chapter on parenchymal lung diseases, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, which is often overlooked. Parenchymal lung disease may be a confusing topic in respect of terminology and treatment and the book covers the topic in detail. Infectious diseases are also covered in the book with a part covering community acquired pneumonia, cystic fibrosis and chronic bronchial suppuration. Finally the book dedicates a section to each of the following: the drug treatment of pulmonary vascular disease, lung cancer and cough.

The book may have been improved by providing a concise summary and recommendations for treatment at the end of each chapter. This would have made the information clearer and quicker to find. The current layout makes it harder for the non-specialist to use. However, the publishers state this book will become an essential source of reference for respiratory clinicians and clinical pharmacologists and I believe that, in the field of respiratory medicine, they are correct in this assumption.

In summary, this book is clearly written and produced and unusually well illustrated. The book contains information on some of the basic research into the underlying mechanisms of respiratory medication and hence will appeal to those who are curious about such matters or who are pursuing or contemplating starting their own research into this area. However, it will also be extremely useful to the more clinically oriented reader because it balances clinical knowledge with basic science. Although, perhaps, few readers will be interested in every chapter, all involved with the treatment of respiratory disease will find it useful and educational. This is not a book to be consulted for a quick "how to do it" guide to drug treatment for respiratory disease but is for those clinicians or pharmacists with an interest in the pharmacology of respiratory disease or with research or teaching interests in this field.

Anna C. Murphy

Anna C. Murphy is consultant respiratory pharmacist at Glenfield Hospital, Leicester