Resources
HIV and the Pathogenesis of AIDS
Post date: 10 June 2008
By Jay Levy
Reviewed by Duc Nguyen, Senior Project Officer, International Division, ASHM
This book arrived when we were preparing for the international short course on HIV and related conditions which will be undertaken adjacent to the ASHM Annual Conference in Perth in September. The third edition of HIV and the Pathogenesis of AIDS by Jay Levy was therefore a good reference check for our curriculum and a further opportunity to reflect upon our HIV training program and contents.
The book is an update of current knowledge on the HIV pathogenesis. This is a comprehensive review of the current research, which elucidates the disease history and analyses the responses from scientists, clinicians and public health workers to the challenges presented by HIV/AIDS since its recognition. Levy includes in-depth discussions on the nature of the virus itself, target cells, consequences of HIV infection, the host's response, and potential approaches to prevention and therapy. There are a number of new chapters, which cover methods and clinical use of viral load assays, the epidemiology of HIV-related cancers, and wasting. It is unfair to expect that everything should be included in the book, though we were not able to find information relating to important issues such as post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) against sexual transmission of HIV.
It is fair to say that the third edition of HIV and the Pathogenesis of AIDS remains an exhaustive resource of HIV management as it provides a comprehensive review of most aspects of HIV medicine. The most recent contributions to HIV prevention and treatment are summarised in the preface and cited in detail in appropriate chapters. The book brings into focus many of the important virological and immunological discoveries made during the 9-year interval since publication of the second edition.
This is a paperback book with 644 pages including index and references. The book presents an expanded version of the second edition with 1,985 new references. All 15 chapters are written in accessible and clear style and those are well organised. Each chapter relates in brief principal points to the previous chapter, commences with helpful subtitles, and the "Salient Features" section offers a summary of key topics as the conclusion. The book contains predominantly black-and-white illustrations and several colour plates of microphotographs, diagrams and tables. The microphotographs include interesting histological specimens and electron microscopic examinations. Figures and tables illustrate and emphasise key points. The text is extensively annotated and about 5000 exhaustive references include up-to-date literature for further investigation. The single volume presentation by one author lends continuity and consistency to the content.
We believe that this book is intended for health care workers and for those experienced investigators in medical science such as immunology, virology, oncology and infectious diseases to confirm facts, and obtain new insights into current ideas and concepts. Teachers, medical and other graduate students with strong interests in HIV epidemic and AIDS pathogenesis will find the book a valuable AIDS resource for general and specific knowledge.
