Progress in basic and clinical immunology within the last two decades has provided profound insight into the immune system and its role in preventing endogenous and exogenous damage. In contrast, disbalances within this system can result in autoimmune disorders which may affect diverse organs and result in distinct clinical pictures. In many of these, however, the individual etiopathogenetic mechanisms are poorly understood and even more their clinical symptoms are hard to treat. The book offers insight into basic mechanisms of autoimmune disorders. It includes neurological, gastrointestinal, ophthalmological and skin diseases as well as current and future therapeutic options including immunomodulatory drugs and different vaccination strategies. By addressing diverse organ systems, both singular and shared features are elaborated. Thus an exchange of ideas is intended across research on single organ systems within a truly interdisciplinary setting.

Progress in basic and clinical immunology within the last two decades has provided profound insight into the immune system and its role in preventing endogenous and exogenous damage. In contrast, disbalances within this system can result in autoimmune disorders which may affect diverse organs and result in distinct clinical pictures. In many of these, however, the individual etiopathogenetic mechanisms are poorly understood and even more their clinical symptoms are hard to treat. The book offers insight into basic mechanisms of autoimmune disorders. It includes neurological, gastrointestinal, ophthalmological and skin diseases as well as current and future therapeutic options including immunomodulatory drugs and different vaccination strategies. By addressing diverse organ systems, both singular and shared features are elaborated. Thus an exchange of ideas is intended across research on single organ systems within a truly interdisciplinary setting.

In recent years immunobiology has witness- aspects on the background of various meth- ed most remarkable achievements and the ods applied, as well as clinicopathologic im- understanding of lymphomas and leukemias plications. A special chapter is addressed to is greatly increased. Knowing that these "Pagetoid Reticulosis" elucidating the neoplasms are essentially immunoprolif- various views on the cytogenesis of this neo- plasm. For the same reason, a contribution erative diseases extended the dermatological views of the corresponding skin tumors. on "Merkel Cell Neoplasms of the Skin" has Sophisticated techniques and new im- been included because these tumors have munological methods now enable us to been mistaken for pagetoid reticulosis. analyze and classify cutaneous malignant The last chapter on "Cooperative Study lymphomas far better than before. As a Groups, Staging and Treatment" leads off consequence this has produced a vast lit- with the signmcant contribution from the erature on this subject in the last few years. Kiel Lymphoma Study Group (G. Brit- For those who are not so familiar with mod- tinger}. 1t deals with the results of a prospec- em immunological thinking, it has become tive study of nodal lymphomas which were increasingly difficult to keep abreast with classilled according to the Kiel Classmca- these developments, and a comprehensive tion. Treatment protocols applied to skin review of this subject appeared to be needed. lymphomas are reported from Cooperative This is the purpose of the present book.

Im Rahmen der Psoriasis-Behandlung sind die therapeutischen Moglich keiten, erkrankte Haut abzuheilen, so vielfaltig wie bei kaum einer ver gleichbaren Dermatose. Mit der Cignolin-Behandlung, dem Gockerman Schema, den verschiedenen Formen der Lichtbehandlung einschliesslich der Photo-Chemotherapie, den systemischen Behandlungsmodalitaten mit Methotrexat oder Ciclosporin A verfugen wir heute uber ein therapeuti sches Spektrum, das den verschiedenen Ausdrucksformen dieser Erkran kung gerecht wird. Das heisst jedoch nicht, dass die Therapie der psoriatischen Erkrankungs formen fur den behandelnden Arzt einfacher geworden ist. Viele Fragen, die dem Arzt gestellt werden, betreffen die Wirkungsmechanismen der einzelnen antipsoriatischen Behandlungsformen, uber die nur wenig be kannt ist. Nicht einmal beim Cignolin, dem altesten Antipsoriatikum, wissen wir genau, wie diese Substanz wirkt. Allenfalls bei den systemischen Antipsoriatika Methotrexat und Ciclosporin A verfugen wir ansatzweise uber Kenntnisse zu ihrer Wirkweise, die jedoch weder voll standig noch wissenschaftlich bewiesen sind. Problematisch ist auch die ausgepragte Chronizitat der psoriatischen Hautlasion. Sie macht eine vor allem im ambulanten Bereich langfristige nebenwirkungsfreie topische Therapie erforderlich. Da die Kortiko steroide in den letzten 10 Jahren mit massiven Compliance-Problemen zu kampfen haben und von der Offentlichkeit vielfach verteufelt werden, entstand ein therapeutisches Niemandsland, das schwer zu uberwinden war."