Buerger's disease historical perspective

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1];Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Hadeel Maksoud M.D.[2]

Overview

Buerger’s disease was first discovered by Felix Von Winiwater, a German physician, in 1879. It was described in detail by Leo Buerger in 1908 in New York,who called it presenile spontaneous gangrene after studying amputations in 11 patients.

Historical Perspective

Discovery

Buerger’s disease was first discovered by Felix Von Winiwater, a German physician, in 1879.^[1]
It was described in detail by Leo Buerger in 1908 in New York, who at the time coined the term “presenile spontaneous gangrene” after studying amputations in 11 patients.^[2]

Famous cases

King George VI (father of the current Queen of England) was diagnosed with Buerger’s disease on 12 November 1948.
On 12 March 1949, the King underwent a successful lumbar sympathectomy, however, continued to smoke.

References

↑ von Winiwarter F: Ueber eine eigenthumliche Form von Endarteriitis und Endophlebitis mit Gangran des Fusses. Arch Klin Chir 1879; 23: 202-26.
↑ Buerger L. Thrombo-angiitis obliterans: a study of the vascular lesions leading to presenile spontaneous gangrene. Am J Med Sci 1908;136:567-80.

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[1] von Winiwarter F: Ueber eine eigenthumliche Form von Endarteriitis und Endophlebitis mit Gangran des Fusses. Arch Klin Chir 1879; 23: 202-26.

[2] Buerger L. Thrombo-angiitis obliterans: a study of the vascular lesions leading to presenile spontaneous gangrene. Am J Med Sci 1908;136:567-80.

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