[Histologic characteristics of the pathologic processes in thromboangiitis obliterans (Buerger's disease)].

In order to elucidate histologic characteristics of the pathologic processes in thromboangiitis obliterans (Buerger's disease) a histopathologic study of amputated legs of 9 patients diagnosed as this disease was carried out. The ages of the patients ranged from 27 to 47 years, all male, and the duration of symptoms prior to amputation was between 3 and 11 years. All of the patients had no history of hypertension. The initial stage of the pathologic processes was characterized by contraction of small arteries of legs followed by intimal thickening with laminar elastosis, the subsequent stage by occlusion of arterial lumens by both thrombosis and following organization and recanalization which occurred in the small arteries, and the later stage by lymphocytic infiltration of the arterial walls, suggesting some immunological mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis. Accompanying venules demonstrated similar processes to those of small arteries, which enhanced the local circulatory disturbances.