Pattern of occlusive peripheral vascular disease in India. (clinicopathological study of 79 cases).

The pattern of peripheral vascular disease in India was studied in 89 patients undergoing amputation for vascular insufficiency. A control group of 26 limbs was studied for aging changes. Clinically, cases were classified into TAO (25), ASO (54) and thrombo-embolic disease (10). Angiographic, macroscopic and microscopic study of dissected vascular tree was done in view of clinical diagnosis. No significant difference was noted in the frequency and extent of involvement of limb arteries in TAO and ASO. Histologically angiitis was noted in 4 cases of TAO and one of ASO but these did not form a distinct clinical group. Primary thrombotic occlusion was seen in 21 cases of TAO and 23 cases of ASO. Atheroma with and without thrombosis was found in 26 cases. In 4 cases the arterial tree was normal. Atheromatous lesions were not seen in control group. In the groups under study they were thought to represent old thrombi rather than degenerative lesions predisposing to thrombosis. In view of these findings it was felt that Buerger's disease was primarily a thrombotic disorder. Angiitis was rare and was probably secondary. The two clinical groups TAO and ASO are not pathologically distinct as very high percentage of the latter showed primary thrombosis. The genesis of thrombosis in two groups however may be different.