Abstract
This book comes as a much anticipated and welcome addition to the Medical Specialties and Laboratory Medicine series published by ACB venture publications, filling a glaring gap in the existing sequence of titles.
My current registrar rotation sees me involved in a specialist cardiovascular risk clinic at a hospital with a supra-regional assay service for cardiac biomarkers; therefore, I was naturally delighted to be asked to review this new book.
The book begins with a chapter describing atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk factors. Both traditional markers and emerging markers are discussed in a concise manner with reference to important studies. Usefully, the evidence behind each novel marker mentioned is summarized to allow the reader to ascertain whether measuring the discussed marker is relevant to their patient population.
The second chapter covers thrombotic disease, and it is followed by an excellent chapter titled Lipoprotein metabolism, dyslipidaemias and their management. This chapter succinctly covers what it says on the ‘tin’, with clear illustrations showing the lipid pathways, followed by a detailed discussion of lipid disorders and their management.
Chapters 4, 5 and 6 cover the diagnosis, investigation and treatment of hypertension, chest pain and cardiac failure respectively. Naturally, the risk stratifying roles of both troponins and naturetic peptides are discussed in detail. The book also refreshingly discusses the clinical utility of ‘non-biochemistry’ tests such as D-dimers, in the diagnosis of thromboembolic diseases.
Throughout the book, each chapter follows a similar structure. Beginning with a concise and illustrative summary of the pathophysiology, continuing with a discussion of the relevant laboratory investigations that aid in diagnosis and then concluding with details of the currently available treatments. Additional reading material including clinical guidelines and relevant publications is provided at the end of each chapter.
Attention should also be drawn to the helpful lists and tables that summarize treatment and diagnostic pathways where relevant. These would be particularly useful as quick reference points when dealing with queries from other clinicians.
Overall, this is a well-written book which, despite being only 99 pages long, covers all the areas that one would expect from its title. I recommend the book to anyone who is involved in the management of patients with cardiovascular disease. In particular, it will be of great value to those involved in lipid and hypertension clinics. I would also recommend this an essential revision aid for those working towards the Part 1 FRCPath Examination, providing a good balance between the biochemical and clinical aspects of cardiovascular disease.