Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0004153 (atherosclerosis)
 77,401 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Thrombangiitis obliterans, a segmental, multilocal, inflammatory disease of the small and medium-sized arteries and veins, is characterized by the relatively juvenile onset of the disease, the peripheral localization of the arterial occlusions and by phlebitis saltans. Other diagnostic criteria are the absence of risk factors typical of atherosclerosis (except smoking), strictly localized occlusion on angiography, phasic clinical course, and exclusion of either collagen disease or essential thrombocytosis. A possible immunopathogenesis for the disease is increasingly favored. In our own study of 33 patients the complement factor C4 was increased in 54.6%, the antielastin antibodies were found at a titre of 1:8 in 57.1% and the immuncomplexes in 23.3%. In only 1 case was the histocompatibility antigen HLA B 12 absent. In view of these immunologic findings and also the fact that phlebitis saltans as a symptom of the disease can be suppressed by salicylates and corticosteroids, but not by anticoagulants, the following therapy is proposed: high doses of acetylsalicylic acid during the acute stage of the illness, or, if this regimen fails, a trial with corticosteroids or immunosuppressive agents.
 ...
PMID:[Thrombangiitis obliterans: diagnosis and therapy in light of new immunological findings]. 37 87

Some authors still doubt that the Buerger's disease is an independent disease entity and differs principally from obliterating atherosclerosis. This is why the author draws attention to many specific characteristics of this disease and differences which distinguish it from atherosclerosis of peripheral arteries. After some introductory notes the author presents that the prevalence of thrombangiitis in Europe ranges from 0.5 to 2% out of all ischemic diseases of limbs, while in Japan it reaches 20-30%. Previously the ratio of affliction of men and women was 100:1; presently some authors present the ratio being 10:1. The upper limbs are usually afflicted by this disease much more often than by obliterating atherosclerosis, and frequently already at the beginning of the disease. The main and only proved risk factor is smoking. However a predisposition is necessary (the predisposition is more frequent in the yellow race). The Buerger's disease is an autoimmune disease responding to the antigen-antibody complex. Laboratory results are positive in coincidence with inflammatory markers, especially in recurrent cases. Histology appoints to inflammatory vascular lesions, sometimes accompanied by a positive finding of IgG deposits, IgM, and immunocomplexes. Clinically, particularly peripheral vessels are afflicted, the disease is initiated usually before 40 years of age and is of a typical arteriographic pattern. It is also characteristic for its migrating phlebitis. The clinical picture has some specific features. The disease can be localized also in the coronary, cerebral and visceral arteries. Besides the general procedures in ischemic diseases of the limbs, the therapy must necessarily, respect also some particulars, as e.g. antiinflammatory therapy (antibiotics, antirheumatics, corticoids) and some specific surgical procedures. (Ref. 75.)
 ...
PMID:[Clinical diagnosis, special characteristics and therapy of Buerger's disease]. 868 30

Aim of this work was to define the histopathological features of post-surgical panniculitis. Dermal and hypodermal changes will be analyzed in detail, to understand the cascade of events that characterize the tissue response to surgical trauma. Cutaneous re-excision specimens of cases of basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma consecutively seen from January 1, 2011 to June 30, 2011 at the Department of Dermatology, University of Pavia, were included in this study. Only the cases in which the first surgical procedure included the subcutaneous fat, were considered. In addition, the time elapsed from the first surgical procedure and the re-excision had to be included in a period of time from one to three months. All the specimens were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Thirty cutaneous re-excision specimens were studied. Histopathologic examination revealed changes of epidermis, ranging from slight atrophy to moderate hyperplasia. In two cases focal ulceration was seen, with transfollicular elimination of foreign body material. The main dermal changes observed were the: 1) scar with well defined vertical orientation along the dermal suture line; 2) rounded cicatricial areas with radial branching septa of scarring tissue; 3) foreign body granuloma formation; 4) alignment of hystiocytes at the dermo-hypodermal border; 5) traumatic neuromas. The subcutaneous fat changes included: 1) lobular panniculitis with consistent presence of foam cells; 2) striking anisocytosis with pseudocystic degeneration and necrosis of adipocytes; 3) eritrocyte extravasation, mainly at the dermo-hypodermal border; 4) deep seated phlebitis. Post-surgical panniculitis is a lobular foam cell panniculitis characterized by simultaneous dermal and hypodermal changes, expression of the multi-faceted tissue response to a surgical trauma. This type of peculiar lipophagic response puts post-surgical panniculitis into the wider chapter of lipophage tissue response seen in atherosclerosis, glomerulosclerosis and some infectious models such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Chlamydia pneumoniae infections. Furthermore it may be seen as a reliable and convenient model for laboratory investigation on foam cell tissue response.
...
PMID:Post-surgical lipophagic panniculitis: a specific model of traumatic panniculitis and new histopathological findings. 2390 Jan 65

Buerger's disease, or thromboangiitis obliterans, is a primary systemic vasculitis of unknown etiology, that affects the arteries and veins of medium and small caliber, causing inflammatory thrombotic phenomena primarily in young smokers. The authors present a review of the cases followed in consultation in their department until 2009, intending to review and interpret the most relevant epidemiological data, as well as forms of presentation. The diagnosis was based on the following criteria: history of smoking, onset of symptoms before 50years of age, infra popliteal artery occlusive disease, involvement of the upper limbs or migratory phlebitis and no other risk factors for atherosclerosis. We evaluate and describe also the therapeutic options used in all cases, both medical treatment, smoking cessation and the surgical options held (revascularization, amputation or sympathectomy). The progression of the disease and its important relationship with the maintenance of tobacco use was also evaluated, comparing amputation levels and rates. After a careful review of the current literature on the subject, we conclude that the results are similar to other published series and the pathogenesis of this disease remains to be fully elucidated.
 ...
PMID:[Buerger's Disease - A National Institutional Experience and Literature Review]. 2791 7