I73: Other peripheral vascular diseases
I73.1: Thromboangiitis obliterans [Buerger]
The arteries supply blood from the heart to the entire body. The blood transports oxygen to the entire body. The oxygen-poor blood flows back to the heart via veins.
When blood vessels become inflamed, the supply of blood and oxygen to parts of the body and organs may get worse. Due to the inflammation, blood clots can then form, particularly in small and medium-sized blood vessels in arms and legs. These blood clots can block blood vessels. As a result it is possible that no more blood at all reaches the body part affected.
With this disorder, one may get severe pain in the arms and legs in particular. Affected body parts can also turn blue. If body parts are not supplied with blood for a long period of time, these body parts can get very badly damaged or even die off.
The precise cause of this disorder is not known. The immune system may possibly not be working properly. This disorder often results from smoking.
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