The Pathogenesis and Diagnosis of Thromboangiitis obliterans: Is It Still a Mystery?

Advances in Clinical and Experimental Medicine : Official Organ Wroclaw Medical University
Rafał MałeckiRajmund Adamiec

Abstract

Thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO) is a rare disease of unknown etiology that results in the occlusion of limb arteries located distally to the elbow and knee. Despite the fact that more than one hundred years have passed since its first description, knowledge on the pathogenesis of TAO and precipitating factors is still limited. Due to a lack of decisive noninvasive diagnostic methods and geographical differences in the prevalence of this condition, data on TAO epidemiology also remains sparse. This review presents important evidence on the pathogenesis and the course of the condition, as well as diagnostic modalities, with a focus on differential diagnosis. Theories on the pathogenesis of TAO include the theory of an infectious disease, coagulation disorders and injury to vascular endothelium resulting in activation of the inflammatory response. Differential diagnosis should exclude thoracic outlet syndrome, blue toe syndrome, infectious endocarditis, popliteal entrapment syndrome, Takayasu disease, primary and secondary systemic vasculitis, antiphospholipid syndrome, infection with the anaerobic Clostridium sp. bacilli and some less common conditions.

Citations

Jun 29, 2010·Annals of Vascular Surgery·José A Todoli ParraManuel A Arrébola López
Jun 23, 2020·Immunity, Inflammation and Disease·Fatemeh Dehghani FirouzabadiKambiz Izadpanah
Sep 4, 2020·Circulation Journal : Official Journal of the Japanese Circulation Society·Yoshiko WatanabeUNKNOWN Japan Research Committee of the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare for Intractable Vasculitis (JPVAS)
Dec 22, 2020·The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology·Melanie E BourgeauJoseph A Prahlow

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