ARTERITIS AND VASOSPASTIC CONDITIONS Thromboangiit

ARTERITIS AND VASOSPASTIC CONDITIONS Thromboangiitis obliterans (Buerger’s disease)

This is characterised by occlusive disease of small and medium-sized limb arteries, thrombophlebitis of superficial or deep veins and Raynaud’s syndrome; it usually occurs in young male smokers. Histologically , there are inflammatory changes in the walls of arteries and veins, leading to thrombo sis. Treatment is total abstinence from smoking, which arrests, but does not reverse, the disease. Established arterial occlusions are treated as for atheromatous disease, b ut amputations may eventually be required.