Preface

The 12th edition of this companion to DiPiro’s Pharmacotherapy: A Pathophysiologic Approach is designed to provide practitioners and students with critical information to guide medication decision-making in collaborative, interprofessional healthcare settings. To ensure brevity, clarity, and portability, a bulleted format provides essential textual information along with key tables, figures, and treatment algorithms.

Corresponding to the major sections in DiPiro’s Pharmacotherapy textbook, medical conditions are alphabetized within the following sections: Bone and Joint Disorders; Cardiovascular Disorders; Dermatologic Disorders; Endocrinologic Disorders; Gastrointestinal Disorders; Gynecologic and Obstetric Disorders; Hematologic Disorders; Infectious Diseases; Neurologic Disorders; Nutrition Support; Oncologic Disorders; Ophthalmic Disorders; Psychiatric Disorders; Renal Disorders; Respiratory Disorders; and Urologic Disorders. The Handbook includes nine tabular appendices involving: (1) pediatric pharmacotherapy, nutrition, and neonatal critical care; (2) geriatric assessment and pharmacotherapy; (3) critical care patient assessment and pharmacotherapy; (4) drug allergy; (5) drug-induced hematologic disorders; (6) drug-induced liver disease; (7) drug-induced pulmonary disease; (8) drug-induced kidney disease; and (9) drug-induced ophthalmic disorders. This edition also includes new chapters on coronavirus disease and multiple sclerosis.

Each chapter is organized in a consistent format:

• Disease state definition

• Pathophysiology

• Clinical presentation

• Diagnosis

• Treatment

• Evaluation of therapeutic outcomes

The Treatment section may include goals of treatment, general approach to treatment, nonpharmacologic therapy, drug selection guidelines, dosing recommendations, adverse effects, pharmacokinetic considerations, and important drug–drug interactions. For more in-depth information, the reader is encouraged to refer to the corresponding chapter in the primary textbook, DiPiro’s Pharmacotherapy: A Pathophysiologic Approach, 12th edition. These chapters also provide guidance on application of the Pharmacists’ Patient Care Process for specific conditions.

It is our hope that students and practitioners find this book to be helpful on their daily journey to provide the highest quality individualized, patient-centered care. We invite your comments on how we may improve subsequent editions of this work; you may write to [email protected]. Please indicate the author and title of this handbook in the subject line of your e-mail.