Buerger disease

Buerger disease (pronounced: bur-ger disease), also known as Thromboangiitis obliterans (pronounced: throm-bo-an-gee-i-tis ob-li-ter-ans), is a rare disease of the arteries and veins in the arms and legs.

Etymology

The disease is named after Dr. Leo Buerger, an Austrian-born American physician who first described the disease in 1908. The term "Thromboangiitis obliterans" is derived from the Greek words "thrombos" (clot), "angeion" (vessel), "itis" (inflammation), and "obliterans" (blocking or closing up), which describe the pathological process of the disease.

Definition

Buerger disease is a non-atherosclerotic, segmental inflammatory disease that most commonly affects the small and medium-sized arteries, veins, and nerves in the arms and legs. The disease is characterized by a combination of inflammation and clots in the blood vessels, which impairs blood flow. This can lead to pain, tissue damage, and even gangrene in severe cases.

Symptoms

The initial symptoms of Buerger disease include pain and tenderness in the affected area, often in the hands or feet. As the disease progresses, symptoms may include Raynaud's phenomenon, where the fingers or toes turn white or blue in response to cold, and intermittent claudication, a condition where pain occurs in the leg muscles when walking or exercising.

Causes

The exact cause of Buerger disease is unknown, but it is strongly associated with the use of tobacco products, including cigarettes and chewing tobacco. It is thought that chemicals in tobacco may irritate the lining of the blood vessels, triggering an immune response that leads to inflammation and clotting.

Treatment

There is no cure for Buerger disease, but the progression of the disease can be slowed or stopped by quitting tobacco use. Other treatments may include medications to improve blood flow, pain management, and in severe cases, surgery to restore blood flow to the affected area or to amputate the affected limb.

Related Terms

• Peripheral artery disease
• Vasculitis
• Gangrene
• Tobacco use

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Buerger disease
• Wikipedia's article - Buerger disease

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