Book excerpt: Written by Washington University residents, fellows, and endocrine faculty, this handbook is ideal for students, housestaff, and fellows involved in inpatient and outpatient endocrinology consults. It presents practical approaches to endocrine disorders commonly seen in consultation, with emphasis on key components of evaluation and treatment. This Second Edition has been thoroughly updated with the latest information on pathophysiology, treatment, and drug dosing. New chapters cover obesity, vitamin D deficiency, autoimmune polyendocrine syndromes, and endocrine disorders in HIV/AIDS. Key points are bulleted for easy reference and clinical pearls are highlighted in bold-faced type. The Washington Manual® is a registered mark belonging to Washington University in St. Louis to which international legal protection applies. The mark is used in this publication by LWW under license from Washington University.