Author Description

Combining basic explanations of laboratory tests with 115 tables full of reference data and applications, the Handbook of Human Immunology provides practicing clinicians with a current, complete guide to molecular immunology. Introductory chapters overview the molecular basis of immune responses and immunological disorders, focusing on the role of cell receptors, accessory molecules, and cytokines in these processes. Emphasis is placed on immunological parameters that are clinically useful. The basic principles underlying assays of the immune system are discussed, and the book stresses the application and interpretation of immune tests. Comprehensive coverage is given to immunoglobulins and their age-dependent concentration. Cellular immunology is discussed from the perspectives of lymphocyte functional parameters, as well as through immunophenotyping of lymphocytes and other leukocytes. Both serological and molecular diagnosis of infectious diseases are reviewed. The Handbook of Human Immunology contains up-to-date information on exciting developments in immunogenetics, covering the application of T-cell receptor genes and the HLA alleles in disease associations and transplantation.