Quantum electrodynamic perturbation theory is applied to high-Z few-electro
n atoms. The starting point is the Dirac equation for an electron in the ex
ternal field of the nucleus. Interaction of the bound electrons with the qu
antized electromagnetic held is treated as a perturbation that results in t
he electron-electron interaction and radiative corrections. The energy-leve
l shifts caused by this interaction are examined for one-, two-, and three-
electron ions in the first and second orders in cu and in the first order i
n m/M. Calculations of the QED and nuclear corrections to the hyperfine spl
itting in hydrogenlike and lithiumlike ions are considered as well. The cur
rently available theoretical results for the Lamb shift, the hyperfine spli
tting, and the bound-electron g-factor are compared with recent experiments
.