A Simple guide to Buerger's Disease

A Simple guide to Buerger's Disease
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What is Buerger's Disease?
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Buerger's Disease is an uncommon form of arterial obstructive disease of the large and medium sized peripheral arteries of legs in men under age 40 giving rise to intermittent claudication.

Occasionally the arteries of the arms and the veins may be involved.

Causes of Buerger's Disease are:
1.heavy smoking

2.arterial lesions are inflammatory rather than degenerative.

3.The appearrance is non-suppurative(no pus) panvasculitis

4.arterial obstructions in the legs are often associated with obstructive arterial lesion elsewhereExample:angina pectoris

5.Diabetes and high lipid patterns are aggravating factors.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Buerger's Disease
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Symptoms:

1.onset is sudden
2.classic symptom of heavy aching pain in the legs when walking(intermittent claudication)
3.loss of arterial pilses
4.leg pallor and coldness
5.Raynaud's phenomenon
6.Other arterial diseases:
a.retinopathy
b.coronary ischemia
c.renal ischemia
7.evidence of peripheral ischemia or gangrene

How to diagnose Buerger's Disease?
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1.Symptoms and signs as above
2.pallor on raising legs
3.angiography to determine site of lesion

What are the complications of Buerger's Disease?
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The complications are:
gangrene of the legs

What is the Treatment of Buerger's Disease?
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1.stop smoking
2.general measures:
a.graded exercise
b.physical training
c.weight loss
3.avoid injury from
a.heat
b.cold
c.trauma
d.infections

Medicines:
vasodilator drugs like persantin, nitrates

Surgery:
reconstructive surgery for localized blockage but may not work

Amputation is preferable with gangrene in elderly

What is the Prevention for Buerger's Disease?
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Avoiding smoking

Prognosis of Buerger's Disease
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disease is often progressive and amputation may be necessary.