Thromboangiitis obliterans with multiple large vessel involvement: case report and analysis of immunophenotypes

Cardiovasc Pathol. 2010 Jan-Feb;19(1):59-62. doi: 10.1016/j.carpath.2008.10.004. Epub 2009 Jan 8.

Abstract

Thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO, Buerger's disease) is an idiopathic, recurrent, segmental, nonatherosclerotic, inflammatory, occlusive vascular disease with a poorly understood pathogenesis. Intestinal or multi-organ involvement is rare. Recent immunohistochemical analyses of ordinary TAO have indicated an inflammatory and immunologic pathogenesis. We report a case of TAO involving multiple large vessels. By immunohistochemistry, CD3+ T cells were revealed around the recanalization sites within the abdominal aorta. CD4+ T cells were almost equal in number to CD8+ T cells. These findings indicate the participation of inflammatory and immunologic processes in TAO with multi-organ involvement (as in ordinary TAO).

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Fatal Outcome
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Smoking
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
  • Thromboangiitis Obliterans / immunology*
  • Thromboangiitis Obliterans / pathology*
  • Thromboangiitis Obliterans / physiopathology