TY - JOUR
T1 - Upper extremity arterial disease
T2 - Etiologic considerations and differential diagnosis
AU - Edwards, J. M.
AU - Porter, J. M.
PY - 1998
Y1 - 1998
N2 - Upper extremity ischemia is an unusual clinical entity. Using a careful history and physical examination, detailed vascular laboratory testing, serological tests, and occasionally arteriography, it is possible to determine the cause in most patients. Most patients presenting with upper extremity ischemia have small vessel disease that is not amenable to surgical treatment. The primary treatment of upper extremity ischemia remains cold avoidance, with pharmacological treatment added in a limited number of patients. A patient's long-term prognosis can be determined based on initial serological studies and the presence or absence of arterial obstruction. Patients with no serological or arterial abnormalities usually continue to have upper extremity ischemic symptoms, but these remain only a nuisance. Patients with either serological abnormalities or arterial obstruction have a mild to moderate risk of progressive symptoms. Those patients with combined serological abnormalities and arterial obstruction at presentation are most likely to have continued difficulties. A significant number of these patients, approximately 50%, are most symptomatic at the time of initial presentation and improve under follow-up.
AB - Upper extremity ischemia is an unusual clinical entity. Using a careful history and physical examination, detailed vascular laboratory testing, serological tests, and occasionally arteriography, it is possible to determine the cause in most patients. Most patients presenting with upper extremity ischemia have small vessel disease that is not amenable to surgical treatment. The primary treatment of upper extremity ischemia remains cold avoidance, with pharmacological treatment added in a limited number of patients. A patient's long-term prognosis can be determined based on initial serological studies and the presence or absence of arterial obstruction. Patients with no serological or arterial abnormalities usually continue to have upper extremity ischemic symptoms, but these remain only a nuisance. Patients with either serological abnormalities or arterial obstruction have a mild to moderate risk of progressive symptoms. Those patients with combined serological abnormalities and arterial obstruction at presentation are most likely to have continued difficulties. A significant number of these patients, approximately 50%, are most symptomatic at the time of initial presentation and improve under follow-up.
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M3 - Review article
C2 - 9671235
AN - SCOPUS:0031815953
SN - 0895-7967
VL - 11
SP - 60
EP - 66
JO - Seminars in Vascular Surgery
JF - Seminars in Vascular Surgery
IS - 2
ER -