Obliterating thromboangiitis (Buerger's disease) is a chronic systemic pathology in which peripheral small and medium arteries and veins are affected. Most often the disease is diagnosed in men, but also occurs in women older than 40 years.
The causes of obliterating thrombangiitis of the lower extremities
Until now, it is not known exactly what causes the pathology. There are only a lot of hypotheses regarding the origin of the obliterating thromboangiitis, among which:
- infectious lesions;
- tobacco smoking;
- increased lipoprotein content;
- injuries;
- allergic reactions;
- chronic intoxication with arsenic;
- genetic factor, etc.
Symptoms of obliterating thromboangiitis
Inflammation of the arteries and veins of the limbs, a decrease in their internal diameter, thrombosis, insufficient blood supply to tissues and other pathological processes accompanying the disease can develop gradually or rapidly. In general, there are four stages of thromboangiitis obliterans, which are characterized by the following clinical manifestations:
1. The first stage:
- cold, tingling or burning at the fingertips;
- increased fatigue of limbs;
- blanching of the skin of the legs;
- convulsions;
- pain in calf muscles of lower leg or foot when walking.
2. The second stage:
- intermittent claudication ;
- loss of elasticity, dry skin of the feet and legs;
- hyperkeratosis of the feet;
- slowing down the growth of nails, their thickening, brittle, dull;
- development of atrophy of subcutaneous fat and small foot muscles;
- lack of pulse on the arteries of the feet.
3. Third stage:
- pain in limbs at rest;
- swelling;
- thinness of the skin;
- formation of cracks, ulcers as a result of small damages;
- progression of atrophy of the calf and foot muscles.
4. Fourth stage:
- necrotic changes in the toes;
- gangrene of foot tissues.
Treatment of obliterative thromboangiitis
Treatment of pathology in the early stages - conservative, aimed at:
- elimination of risk factors;
- pain relief;
- elimination of spasm of blood vessels ;
- improvement of metabolic processes in tissues;
- normalization of the processes of blood coagulation, improvement of fluidity of blood.
In severe cases and in the absence of a positive result of conservative therapy, surgical intervention is indicated, including lumbar sympathectomy, shunting, and limb amputation.