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Buerger's disease criteria

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Overview

A concrete diagnosis of thromboangiitis obliterans is often difficult as it relies heavily on exclusion of other conditions.

Diagnostic Criteria

Diagnostic Criteria

A concrete diagnosis of thromboangiitis obliterans is often difficult as it relies heavily on exclusion of other conditions. The commonly followed diagnostic criteria are mentioned below although the criteria tend to differ slightly from author to author. Olin et al (2000) proposes the following criteria:[1]

  • Age younger than 45 years
  • Current (or recent) history of tobacco use
  • Presence of distal extremity ischemia (indicated by claudication, pain at rest, ischemic ulcers or gangrene) documented by noninvasive vascular testing such as ultrasound
  • Exclusion of autoimmune diseases, hypercoagulable states, and diabetes mellitus by laboratory tests
  • Exclusion of a proximal source of emboli by echocardiography and arteriography
  • Consistent arteriographic findings in the clinically involved and noninvolved limbs
References

References

  1. Olin JW. Thromboangiitis obliterans (Buerger’s disease). N Engl J Med 2000;343:864-9. PMID 10995867.

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