[Buerger disease, clinical and prognostic aspects. 83 cases].

A retrospective analysis of 83 records of patients with Buerger's disease is presented. There were 71 men and 12 (14.5 percent) women. Compared with men, women with Buerger's disease had a significantly more frequent vasomotor disorder, but they had less trophic disorders and a lower risk of amputation. After a 42-month follow-up, it appeared that tobacco plays a major role in the prognosis: patients who continued to smoke had significantly more numerous acute episodes than those who ceased smoking. The degree of intoxication is an element of prognosis, but good medical management contributes to reduction in the number of major amputations: only 5 patients (6 percent), all male, had a leg (4 cases) or a thigh (1 case) amputated.