Neurology in Clinical Practice is a practical textbook of neurology that covers all of the clinical neurosciences and provides not only a description of neurological diseases and their pathophysiology but also a practical approach to their diagnosis and management. In the preface to the first edition of this book, published in 1991, we forecast that major technological and research advances would soon reveal the underlying cause and potential treatment of an ever-increasing number of neurological diseases.

The 17 years that have passed since that prediction have been filled with the excitement of new discoveries resulting from the blossoming of neurosciences, particularly the discipline of neurogenetics. Many of the inherited diseases that were conundrums at that time have been elucidated by discoveries of the underlying gene mutations. A number of the apparently sporadic neurological “degenerations” are becoming better understood as a result of the application of genome-wide screening for susceptibility genes. Although these discoveries have not yet translated into “cures,” research into nervous system regeneration and stem cell biology is beginning to offer hope of healing the damaged nervous system.

In addition to neurogenetics, extraordinary progress has been made in other areas of the neurosciences, including neuroimmunology, neuroimaging, and neurophysiology. Expansion of the field of experimental neuro-therapeutics has gradually changed the perception of neurology from being primarily a diagnostic specialty to being a discipline deeply involved in treatment. Advances in neuropharmacology have stimulated development of new drugs and therapeutic trials, with increasing reliance on evidence-based medicine. Rigorous approaches to the design and conduct of clinical trials also are now being applied to neurosurgery, including the use of “sham” controls. Nevertheless, we still have a long way to go to reach the ultimate goal of being able to understand and treat all neurological diseases. Neurology remains an intellectually exciting discipline, both because of the complexity of the nervous system and because of the insight that the pathophysiology of neurological disease provides into the workings of the brain and mind. Accordingly, we offer the fifth edition of Neurology in Clinical Practice as the updated comprehensive and most authoritative presentation of both the art and the science of neurology.

For this edition, the text has been completely rewritten, and almost a fifth of the chapters have been prepared by authors new to the cadre of contributors. The layout of the pages has been completely redesigned to provide a user-friendly environment for accessing the material. The companion website www.nicp.com has been refined and expanded and includes video and audio material, additional illustrations and references, and chapters on key related material from other established neurology texts. It also is regularly updated with mini-reviews of important new publications in the neurological literature.

A work of this breadth would not have been possible without the contributions of many colleagues throughout the world. We are deeply grateful to them for their selfless devotion to neurological education. We are also grateful for the encouragement and wisdom of Susan Pioli of Elsevier, who has been an active participant at every stage of the development of the book. Jennifer Shreiner, Senior Development Editor at Elsevier, was the key person drawing this project together. Additionally, we thank Joan Sinclair, Production Manager, and Linnea Hermanson, Production Editor, without whose energy and efficiency the high quality of production and rapidity of publication of this work would not have been achieved. Finally, we gratefully acknowledge the contributions of our readers, whose feedback regarding Neurology in Clinical Practice and the website has been invaluable in enhancing our educational goals.

© 2008  Elsevier Inc. Tous droits réservés.

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