Symptoms of vasculitis

Vasculitis, also known as thromboangiitis obliterans, is an allergic inflammation of blood vessels. Vasculitis is common in smokers and has nothing to do with bacterial infection. Clinically, the symptoms of vasculitis are also very obvious, and patients may experience obvious pain symptoms.

1. Pain

The pain was relieved immediately after rest. Symptoms reappear after walking again, which is called intermittent claudication. As the disease progresses, the walking distance gradually decreases. This is due to the increased oxygen demand of muscles after walking. Examination of the affected limb revealed decreased skin temperature, paler skin color, and weakened pulses in the dorsalis pedis artery and/or posterior tibial artery. Migratory thrombophlebitis is common.

2. Ischemia

In addition to the continued worsening of the above symptoms, the affected limb suffers from severe ischemia, the resting pain is aggravated, the pain is severe and lasts for a long time. The patient sits with his knees bent and his feet hugged day and night and cannot sleep at night. The appetite decreases, the physical strength declines, and the body becomes noticeably thinner. If local infection occurs, systemic toxic blood symptoms such as fever, chills, and irritability may occur.

3. Ulcers

Ischemia of extremity tissues is more serious, resulting in ulcers or gangrene. Most of them are dry gangrene, with the toe (fingertip) drying and blackening, and can extend proximally. After the necrotic tissue falls off, an ulcer that does not heal for a long time is formed. If secondary infection occurs, it will turn into wet gangrene. According to the scope of gangrene, it can be divided into three grades: grade 1, gangrene is limited to the toes (fingers); grade 2, gangrene extends to the metatarsal (metacarpal) joints and metatarsal (palm); grade 3, gangrene extends to the heel, ankle or above the ankle.

4. Others

When the dorsalis pedis artery pulse of a patient with vasculitis is touched, it will disappear or become absent. The feet of patients with vasculitis will become colder year by year, the skin will appear pale or other colors, and if there are ruptures, ulcers will appear. As the disease worsens, the patient's lower limbs will gradually experience pain, often leading to insomnia and affecting the patient's physical quality.