One of the newly emerging themes in clinical practice is the concept of 'gender
specific' medicine - the realization that the pathogenesis, etiology and
progression of disease often differs between the sexes. In some instances, the
mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are known, in others, they remain the
focus of speculation. In many cases, the impact of disease and the options for
management have greater importance in the female when these factors are related
to reproductive health and the well-being of the women who are, or hope to be,
bearing children. Cardiovascular disease is of singular importance in this
context, and this authoritative new text provides a comprehensive