A comprehensive guide to managing autoimmune diseases.

Twenty million adults in the United States live with an autoimmune disease. In this compassionate guide, Dr. Julius Birnbaum offers essential advice for navigating the complex world of various autoimmune diseases. This resource will help patients, caregivers, and health care professionals understand the diagnosis, management, and treatment of conditions like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's syndrome, and more.

Dr. Birnbaum, an expert in both neurology and rheumatology, covers a wide range of topics, from the basics of autoimmunity to the nuances of various rheumatic diseases and their interconnected nature. With an engaging blend of scientific rigor and compassion, Dr. Birnbaum:

• provides a primer on autoimmunity, explaining how the immune system can mistakenly attack the body's own tissues
• discusses the roles and limitations of blood tests and biopsies
• covers the complexities of various treatment options, including when to use immunosuppressive therapy and when simpler symptomatic treatments might be appropriate
• emphasizes the importance of personalized treatment plans that consider the unique needs of each patient
• debunks common myths about rheumatic diseases and provides practical pearls of wisdom that can help improve quality of life
• provides captivating patient narratives from his clinical practice that clarify how to diagnose and treat autoimmune diseases

This essential overview of autoimmune diseases, supplemented with helpful tools for readers and their loved ones, offers hope and empowerment for managing these complex conditions.

Julius Birnbaum, MD, MHS, is an associate professor of rheumatology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.