Buerger's disease is a rare form of vasculitis that almost always occurs in people who use tobacco. It affects blood flow to the hands and feet, eventually resulting in damage in the affected tissues. Learn more about causes, symptoms and prevention.
Buerger disease almost always occurs in people who use tobacco, but it is not known exactly how tobacco plays a role in the development of the disease. Some people may have a genetic predisposition to Buerger disease. It is also possible that Buerger disease is an autoimmune disease, as the immune system seems to play a large role in its development. More research is needed to identify the exact underlying causes.
Quitting all forms of tobacco is an essential part of stopping the progression of the disease. There are no definitive treatments, but certain therapies may improve symptoms in some people. Therapies that have been reported with varying success include medications to improve blood flow and reduce the risk of clots, pain medicines, compression of the arms and legs, spinal cord stimulation, and surgery to control pain and increase blood flow. Amputation may be necessary if gangrene or a serious infection develops.
Source: Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center
Additional Materials (4)
Advanced Buerger's disease
55 year old female with advanced Buerger's disease. two toes amputated due to gangrene. Both legs scheduled for amputation.
Image by Onthelist/Wikimedia
Buerger disease | Circulatory System and Disease | NCLEX-RN | Khan Academy
Announcement of successful stem cell therapy on Buerger’s disease patients. 02
메디컬TV MedicalTV/YouTube
Is It Common?
Population statistics
Image by ArtsyBeeKids/Pixabay
Population statistics
Image by ArtsyBeeKids/Pixabay
How Common Is Buerger Disease?
Buerger disease has become less common over the past ten years given the decrease in smoking prevalence and more strict diagnostic criteria. In 1947, it was estimated to occur in 104 out of 100,000 people. It now is estimated to occur in 12-20 out of 100,000 people.
Source: Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center
Causes
Thromboangiitis obliterans
Image by Milorad Dimic MD
Thromboangiitis obliterans
Thromboangiitis obliterans: CT angiogram showing segmental stenosis of arteries of the lower leg (indicated by arrows). The changes are particularly apparent in the blood vessels in the lower right hand portion of the picture (the femoral artery distribution).
Image by Milorad Dimic MD
What Causes Buerger Disease?
Buerger disease has a strong relationship to cigarette smoking. This association may be due to direct poisoning of cells from some component of tobacco, or by hypersensitivity to the same components. Many people with Buerger disease will show hypersensitivities to injection of tobacco extracts into their skin. There may be a genetic component to susceptibility to Buerger disease as well. It is possible that these genetic influences account for the higher prevalence of Buerger disease in people of Israeli, Indian subcontinent, and Japanese descent. Certain HLA (human leukocyte antigen) haplotypes have also been found in association with Buerger disease.
Source: Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center
Additional Materials (1)
CDC: Tips from Former Smokers - Buerger's Disease Ad
Video by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/YouTube
0:31
CDC: Tips from Former Smokers - Buerger's Disease Ad
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/YouTube
Symptoms
Hands, Old, Young, Holding, Caring
Image by PublicDomainPictures/Pixabay
Hands, Old, Young, Holding, Caring
Image by PublicDomainPictures/Pixabay
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Buerger’s Disease?
Buerger’s disease (also known as thromboangiitis obliterans) affects blood vessels in the body, most commonly in the arms and legs. Blood vessels swell, which can prevent blood flow, causing clots to form. This can lead to pain, tissue damage, and even gangrene (the death or decay of body tissues). In some cases, amputation may be required.
The most common symptoms of Buerger’s disease are:
Fingers or toes that appear pale, red, or bluish
Cold hands or feet
Pain in the hands and feet that may feel like burning or tingling
Pain in the legs, ankles, or feet when walking—often located in the arch of the foot
Skin changes or small painful sores on the fingers or toes
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Treatment
Warning sign to avoid Drinking and Smoking
Image by TheVisualMD
Warning sign to avoid Drinking and Smoking
Warning sign to avoid Drinking and Smoking
Image by TheVisualMD
How Is Buerger Disease Treated?
Currently there is not a cure for Buerger disease, however there are treatments that can help control it. The most essential part of treatment is to avoid all tobacco and nicotine products. Even one cigarette a day can worsen the disease. A doctor can help a person with Buerger disease learn about safe medications and programs to combat smoking/nicotine addiction. Continued smoking is associated with an overall amputation rate of 40 to 50 percent.
The following treatments may also be helpful, but do not replace smoking/nicotine cessation:
Medications to dilate blood vessels and improve blood flow (e.g., intravenous Iloprost)
Medications to dissolve blood clots
Treatment with calcium channel blockers
Walking exercises
Intermittent compression of the arms and legs to increase blood flow to your extremities
Surgical sympathectomy (a controversial surgery to cut the nerves to the affected area to control pain and increase blood flow)
Therapeutic angiogenesis (medications to stimulate growth of new blood vessels)
Spinal cord stimulation
Amputation, if infection or gangrene occurs
Source: Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center
Smoking is bad for anyone, of course, but it`s especially bad for people with prediabetes or diabetes. Scientists have known for many years that smokers with diabetes have higher blood sugar levels than nonsmokers with diabetes, but they haven`t understood why. Now, researchers at California State Polytechnic University in Pomona, California, have discovered a “smoking gun” that helps to explain why smoking is especially bad for people with diabetes. They found strong evidence that it`s the nicotine in tobacco that`s the main culprit in making symptoms of diabetes and the risk of developing complications far worse for smokers. Their study showed that nicotine causes blood A1C levels to rise by as much as 34%. And the higher the nicotine levels, the more A1C is produced. Smoking also constricts blood vessels and raises the level of inflammation throughout the body. Smoking is linked with insulin resistance. In fact, cigarette smokers are almost three times as likely to develop diabetes as people who have never smoked.For people who already have diabetes, smoking causes macrovascular complications (like heart attack and stroke) and microvascular complications (such as kidney disease, retinal disease, and foot problems) to occur sooner. Smoking increases risk of death for people with diabetes. Studies show that smoking shortens lives an average of 5-10 years, but there`s evidence that it shortens lifespan even more for people with diabetes. Quitting Smoking • Write down your reasons for quitting. Smoke cessation counselors find this a crucial step in successfully quitting. You must be clear on your goals and reasons for quitting. Writing them down in your own words personalizes and reinforces your objective. • Tell your doctor, friends and family that you want to quit. You will need their support and participation. Ask friends and family not to smoke or keep cigarettes near you. Let them know you may go through some emotional phases that won`t be easy for any of you on the way to a smoke-free life. • Make your home smoke-free. Insist that no one ever smoke inside, for the health of everyone who lives there. Quitters who live in smoke-free homes have fewer episodes of backsliding. It`s important, though, when quitting smoking, to take steps to avoid putting on weight, as weight gain creates health problems as well, especially for people who have diabetes.
Image by TheVisualMD
How Is Smoking Related to Buerger’s Disease?
The exact cause of Buerger’s disease is unknown, however tobacco use is strongly linked to its development. Researchers believe that chemicals in tobacco may irritate the lining of the blood vessels, causing them to swell.
Almost everyone diagnosed with Buerger’s disease smokes cigarettes or uses other forms of tobacco, such as cigars and chewing tobacco.
If you want to prevent getting Buerger’s disease, don’t smoke cigarettes or use any other tobacco products.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Send this HealthJournal to your friends or across your social medias.
Buerger's Disease
Buerger's disease is a rare form of vasculitis that almost always occurs in people who use tobacco. It affects blood flow to the hands and feet, eventually resulting in damage in the affected tissues. Learn more about causes, symptoms and prevention.