BUERGER’S DISEASE

Overview and Facts

Buerger’s disease is a rare artery and vein disease that affects the arms and legs. In this condition, your blood arteries become inflamed, swollen, and obstructed by blood clots.Over time, this has an adverse effect on or kills skin tissues, which may result in gangrene and infection. Moreover, Buerger’s disease usually begins in the hands and feet and progresses to wider portions of the legs and arms.

Almost everyone with Buerger’s disease smokes cigarettes or consumes tobacco in other ways, like chewing nicotine. Besides, this condition can only be cured by stopping all types of tobacco. Amputation of some or all parts of a limb is often required for those who refuse to quit.

Types and Symptoms

SYMPTOMS

The symptoms of Buerger’s disease are:

  • Tingling or engulfing hands and feet.
  • Pale, reddish, or blue of the hand or foot.
  • Discomfort in the arms, feet, hands, and legs. 
  • Infections beneath the skin surface.
  • Fingers and toes become pale after cold exposure.
  • Painful opening of your fingers or toes.

If you suspect you might have clinical manifestations of Buerger’s disease, see your doctor right once.

Diagnosis & Medications

DIAGNOSIS

While no tests can prove if you have Buerger’s disease, your doctor will probably order tests that rule out other more prevalent diseases or validate an assumption. These tests may include:

  • Blood tests. This is done to rule out other illnesses that may cause similar signs and symptoms, such as blood-clotting disorders or lupus.
  • Allen test. This is used to monitor blood flow in the arteries that transport blood to your hands.
  • Angiogram. This is used to look at the state of your arteries. It can be performed non-invasively using MRI or CT scans.

TREATMENT

Although there is no cure for Buerger’s disease, quitting smoking is the most effective approach to prevent the disease from worsening. Even a few cigarettes per day can exacerbate the condition.

Moreover, your doctor can give you advice and prescribe drugs to help you quit smoking and reduce blood vessel inflammation. Also, nicotine-infused products should be avoided since they still include nicotine, which triggers Buerger’s disease. You can utilize non-nicotine goods instead.

Other options for treatments are:

  • Spasmodic compression of the legs and arms
  • Stimulation of your spinal cord
  • Medications
  • Amputation (only if gangrene is present)

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