Case Report

Buerger Disease in an Elderly Man

Authors: Hassan M. Ismail, MD, MPH, FACP

Abstract

Buerger disease is characterized by progressive distal extremity ischemia in persons with recent tobacco consumption. Typically, affected persons are young men. There have been case reports of Buerger disease in older men. Almost all of the reported cases were characterized with progressive, severe disease requiring amputation. We report a case of an older man with features of Buerger disease without significant proximal progression despite active smoking. Arteriographic and pathologic studies confirmed the diagnosis.


Key Points


* Buerger disease is a nonatherosclerotic, segmental, inflammatory disease that affects the veins, nerves, and small- and medium-sized arteries of the distal lower and upper extremities.


* Buerger is a disease of young men who consume tobacco. Old age, however, does not rule out the disease.


* If the diagnostic criteria for Buerger disease are met, the diagnosis is confirmed by the typical histopathological and angiographic findings.

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