Abstract
Imagine, if you will, that you have the privilege to attend a journal club where over 100 leaders in your field of study from around the world present seminal articles that have shaped the evolution and understanding of that field. In addition, not only do these experts analyse and critique the individual articles, they also provide detailed succinct further scrutiny from related studies to support their presentation. If this is a prospect that interests, even excites, you then Landmark Papers in Allergy is a ‘must read’.
The allergy volume is the latest in the landmark papers series in which the selected editors have chosen an international panel of experts to individually review a landmark paper. The editors have chosen a chorological approach of presentation from the early discoveries of as far back as 1819 to the most recent (2011) important advances. Each paper, of which there are a total of 91, represents a chapter, the format of which is the abstract (or precis thereof where the abstract is not freely available) of the original paper followed by the reviewer’s commentary together with a few selected references.
This book is not intended to be a comprehensive review on allergy. It will however, as hoped for by the authors, appeal to clinicians, researchers, scientists, historians and students of allergy. The attractions of this presentation format are many. These include the original papers of milestones in allergy such as the beginnings of immunotherapy, discovery of immunoglobulin G, development of the radioallergosorbent test, proposal and progress of the ‘hygiene hypothesis’, emergence of novel treatments, such as the discovery of antihistamines, work on sodium cromoglycate and studies establishing the effectiveness of inhaled steroids and many more, wide ranges of topics from epidemiology to clinical presentation, causation, treatment and psychological effects of food, respiratory and skin allergies and the accompanying expert commentaries. The selected references in addition will surely stimulate the interested reader to seek these out and read further.
The editors conclude the book with a chapter of their own leading the reader through the history of allergy and how the evolution of allergic diseases influenced by changes in lifestyle has directed research. These changes continue with economic development and climate change amongst other and will undoubtedly continue to influence the epidemiology and nature of allergic conditions. Researchers in the future will naturally be directed by these changes and will do well to learn from the past as they attempt to navigate through the challenges these will present.
The landmark papers series is thus a unique format that provides the student of allergy, young and old, with an informative and enjoyable read as well as an accessible resource for teaching and research. It is a useful addition to the office bookshelf that is likely to be read and reread.