Burger disease is a thromboembolic arteritis. Its causes are not well understood, but scientists speculate that it is caused by immune disorders. What are the causes, symptoms, and treatments for Burger Disease?
Thromboembolic arteritisis a condition that rarely affects the circulatory system. However, in Poland, 3 percent of people admitted to hospital with limb ischemia suffer fromBurger disease . Usually these are men between 20 and 40 who smoke cigarettes. Nicotinism is the cause of the disease in 90%. cases, but nicotine tablets and patches have the same effect on the vessels. Disease can also be caused by inflammation or a genetic predisposition. It is comforting that the disease tends to go away on its own after 45-50. years of age.
Burger disease causes blood clots in vessels and arteries
Buerger's disease causes numerous blood clots to form inside the vessels, which gradually become fibrotic and completely occlude the vessel. Such changes most often take place in the arteries of the lower limbs, less often in the upper limbs, as well as in the cerebral, coronary, visceral or renal vessels. A feature of the disease is that apart from the arteries, it also affects veins and nerves.
Burger disease: symptoms
A symptom of Buerger's disease is pain that occurs at the site of the abnormal circulation, a bluish discoloration of the skin and a drop in temperature in this area of the body. Pain, referred to as paroxysmal or shooting pain, is associated with hypoxia, which leads to acidification of the tissues. It can also be a sign of nerve damage. Some patients complain that foot pain occurs after exercise, such as prolonged walking. In addition, ischemia increases the sensitivity of the feet to cold, and the skin on the toes may have a bluish-red color. Ulceration can easily form in places where the right amount of blood and the oxygen it carries cannot reach.
If the disease is not treated, tissue hypoxia and necrosis occur over time, which unfortunately results in amputation . Usually it ends with the amputation of all or part of the toes, and with more advanced disease - larger parts of the leg.
Burger disease: diagnosis
When making a diagnosis, the doctor takes into account the age of the patient and his addictions. It mustmake sure that the symptoms are not related to another disease, e.g. diabetes, arteriosclerosis, embolism or scleroderma. One of the basic tests is to check whether the arteries (tibial, dorsal of the foot, popliteal, elbow) have a palpable pulse. The doctor also orders laboratory tests. If the result shows an accelerated ESR and elevated levels of fibrinogen (a blood plasma protein produced in the liver) and CRP (an acute phase protein whose high concentration in the blood indicates infection, inflammation, trauma or a heart attack), it may suspect Buerger's disease. Doppler examination serves only to rule out the existence of atherosclerosis. The final diagnosis is made after performing angiography, which shows the places of arterial closure and the presence of collateral circulation, i.e. the existence of veins with a characteristic corkscrew shape.
How to save legs from amputation in Burger disease?
The basis of the treatment is to stop smoking. The patient should protect the feet and hands (distal parts of the body) from cold, pressure and injury. Quitting smoking is especially important for people who have ulcers. Discontinuation of cigarettes promotes the healing of wounds, and the return to the addiction is associated with the formation of further ischemic foci, i.e. exacerbation of the disease. Ulcers are treated with antiseptics and special dressings. The necrotic tissues are removed mechanically or the aim is to separate them spontaneously by applying specialist preparations to the wound. Pain is combated with drugs, in severe conditions opioids and epidural anesthesia are used.
ImportantDrug treatmentBurger diseaseconsists in taking medications that reduce blood clotting (ASA 75-150 mg / day) and improve vascular flow. Surgical treatment consists of the implementation of vascular prostheses, and ultimately the amputation of parts of the limbs.
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