What is Buerger’s Disease?
Leo Buerger first identified Thromboangiitis obliterans in 1908. This medical condition is now typically called Buerger’s Disesase; it’s a disease that restricts blood flow in the small and medium arteries.
In this fairly rare condiiton, the swelling of the arteries often affects the legs more than the arms. The swelling causes vessel blockages which leads to the restriction of blood flow and possibility of clots. It causes pain in the affected areas, and result in death and damage to nearby tissues in the body.
TreatmentThere is no direct cure for Buerger’s disease, but evidence shows that the outcome is generally positive when people with the condition stop smoking.
Other treatment strategies focus on managing symptoms, including:
- Prescription narcotics or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can help to relieve pain.
- Vasodilators, such as calcium channel blockers, cause the blood vessels to widen, which allows more blood flow, resulting in lower blood pressure.
- Hyperbaric oxygen therapy improves symptoms in similar conditions such as diabetes. Research from 2018 showed that combining this therapy with conventional treatment for people demonstrated some benefits to symptoms.
Another method is surgical revascularization to help restore blood flow. Where possible, doctors try to avoid amputation as an option.
Read more at Medical News Today