Occlusive arteriosclerosis

Occlusive atherosclerosis (arteriosclerosis obliterans) is a disease in which atherosclerotic lesions involve peripheral arteries and cause chronic occlusion. More common in large and medium arteries at the lower end of the abdominal aorta. Due to atherosclerotic plaque and its internal bleeding or plaque rupture, secondary thrombosis and luminal stenosis or occlusion gradually occur, leading to clinical manifestations such as ischemia of the affected limb. Occlusive arteriosclerosis is more common in older people over 60 years of age, and those with diabetes have an earlier onset. More men than women. Lesions mostly occur at the branches of blood vessels, causing stenosis or occlusion of the lumen, resulting in insufficient blood supply to the distal end of the lesion. The clinical manifestations are intermittent claudication, that is, after walking for a distance, the affected side muscles have spasm, tension, pain, and fatigue, which leads to "claudication", which is relieved quickly after rest, and walking again occurs again. Another symptom is pain at rest, especially at night. Patients often sit with their legs on their legs and cannot fall asleep, but they alleviate when drooping or cold. There may also be cold feet, paresthesia, pale or bruising skin, subcutaneous fat atrophy, and even dry gangrene or ulcers on the legs and feet. The disease is more common in the elderly, and the age of onset is between 50 and 70 years old. There are more men than women, and women account for only 8% to 10%. 20% of the patients are accompanied by diabetes. Diabetic patients are 11 times more likely to develop the disease than non-diabetic patients. About 35% of patients have hypertension.

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