Buerger S Disease

Buerger S Disease: causes, symptoms and treatment

Buerger's disease, also known as thromboangiitis obliterans, is a rare artery disease that occurs primarily in young men who smoke. In this article we will look at the causes of Buerger's disease, its symptoms and treatment methods.

Causes of Buerger's disease

The reasons for the development of Buerger's disease are not fully understood. However, smoking is known to be a major risk factor. Buerger's disease occurs mainly in smoking men aged 20 to 40 years. Some scientists also associate the development of Buerger's disease with a disorder of the immune system.

Symptoms of Buerger's disease

The main symptom of Buerger's disease is a chronic inflammatory reaction in the walls of the small and medium-sized arteries of the extremities, which leads to their blockage. The arteries in the legs are most commonly affected, but other arteries may also be affected. The patient may develop intermittent claudication, which is manifested by pain in the legs while walking, as well as night pain in the legs. In severe cases, gangrene may develop.

Treatment of Buerger's disease

Treatment of Buerger's disease is aimed at improving blood circulation in the affected limbs and preventing the development of gangrene. Treatment is similar to that for atherosclerosis and may include:

1. Stop smoking. This is the most important condition for stopping the progression of Buerger's disease.
2. Treatment of symptoms. Medications such as aspirin or pentoxifylline may be used to relieve pain and improve circulation.
3. Surgery. In severe cases, surgical restoration of blood flow to the affected arteries or even amputation of the affected limb may be required.

In conclusion, Buerger's disease is a rare disease that can lead to serious complications such as gangrene and limb amputation. However, stopping smoking is a key factor in preventing progression of the disease. If you smoke and experience leg pain, see your doctor for diagnosis and treatment.

Becker-Grange disease or Buerger's angiitis is a rare chronic disease of the arteries of the lower extremities caused by obliteration (blockage) of the arteries.

This is a kind of autoimmune process with the destruction of the intima (inner layer) of blood vessels and the deposition of immune complexes. Buerger's disease affects medium- and small-caliber arteries. In some patients, the artery is affected within the muscular cuff of the femoral joint; in others, destruction of the arterial wall occurs in more proximal parts of the lower limb. Sometimes the lesion is noticeable only in the feet, where trophic ulcers of varying severity sometimes develop. The disease usually develops in young men (25–40 years old) with a long history of smoking. Tobacco smoking is an obligate etiological factor of the disease. Since atherosclerosis of large vessels predominantly affects men, the likelihood of developing Becker-Grange disease among men of this age is 1 in 200. The disease is accompanied by intermittent claudication (occurring due to narrowing of the arteries), pain associated with decreased blood supply to the limb, and skin atrophy. The diagnosis is made by a rheumatologist based on characteristic symptoms and laboratory results.

Buhrer's disease (TOS in English) is very rare; about 15% of all reported cases are recurrent cases or combined forms with thromboangitis. This is a chronic inflammatory disease of arteries of various locations and types, which is most often combined with thromboangiitis obliterans, and can rarely be unilateral. In our country, the disease is registered mainly in men of working age, mainly non-smokers, and is spreading at an increasingly younger age. The relatively high frequency of recurrent cases and the presence of combined lesions are noteworthy, suggesting the presence of features in the pathogenesis and clinical course of the disease. The predominant development of arterial insufficiency of the lower extremities suggests damage to the circulatory system primarily of the arteries of the lower extremities.