Autoimmune Bullous Diseases

?This book provides obligatory study material on courses on autoimmune bullous diseases. Residents and researchers in dermatology and adjacent disciplines can use the book as a quick reference guide when dealing with these patients. The book contains protocols and follows international guidelines.? Currently there is no quick primer on Autoimmune Bullous Diseases for dermatologists who wish to learn the subtleties of diagnosis and management of this group of mucocutaneous diseases. Since mucous membranes are also included the following medical disciplines might be interested too: oral medicine and stomatology, ENT, ophthalmology, gynaecology, gastro-enterology. The Center for Blistering Diseases in Groningen has organized since the year 2000 an annual course on Bullous Diseases for dermatologists and pathologists. The staff is selected from the faculty. The course is interactive and problem-oriented. The proposed book would represent the documented practical knowledge of the staff on these diseases. The information should be clear and practical with examples and questions for self-assessment.

Marcel F. Jonkman is Professor and Chair of the department of Dermatology at the University of Groningen. He graduated in 1984 as MD and finished his Ph.D.-thesis on artificial skin and epidermal wound healing in 1989 in the Department of Medical Electron Microscopy (prof. dr. I. Molenaar). From 1988-1992 he followed a dermatological training in the University Hospital (prof. dr. J.P. Nater, joined the faculty as assistant-professor in 1993 and was promoted to associate professor in 1997. In 1996 he attended the lab of dr J. Uitto Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia as visiting professor. In 1999 he initiated the Centre for Blistering Disorders in the dermatological department in Groningen. In 2002 he was appointed as full Professor of Dermatology with special regard to bullous diseases. In 2003 he was appointed as chair of the department of Dermatology in Groningen. In 2004 he was appointed as residents Programme director. Dr Jonkman is founder of the Dutch Society of Experimental Dermatology. In the University Hospital Groningen he runs special clinics in bullous autoimmune diseases, epidermolysis bullosa, and genodermatoses.