Microangiopathy - causes and signs of microangiopathy

Epidemiology

Microangiopathy is a universal phenomenon that occurs in vascular organs and systems during the development of infectious diseases, diabetes mellitus, malignant tumors, liver pathologies and hemolysis. The manifestation of the disease depends on the characteristics of the tissue of the affected organs, their anatomical and morphological parameters, as well as on a number of external factors.

The causes of microangiopathy can be genetic disorders of the tone of the vascular walls, some diseases of the blood and plasma, intoxications of various origins, physical injuries. Medicine also believes that the threat of the disease can be caused by excessive smoking and alcohol consumption, constantly high blood pressure, weakening of the body due to long-term work in hazardous industries and age-related changes in the body.

Clinical picture

Manifestations of microangiopathy depend on the location of the pathology, but the most characteristic symptoms of the active development of the disease can be considered deterioration of vision, itching and burning in the muscles of the legs, "intermittent" claudication, frequent nosebleeds and stomach bleeding, the appearance of blood clots in sputum and urine, dryness and peeling of the skin on the feet.

Medicine distinguishes between cerebral and diabetic forms of microangiopathy.

• Cerebral microangiopathy is expressed by damage to small cerebral vessels and occurs due to insufficient cerebral circulation, atherosclerosis and arterial hypertension. It can manifest itself in encephalopathy of various types.
• Diabetic microangiopathy develops in diabetes mellitus and entails tissue hypoxia.

Diagnostics and treatment

Diagnostics of microangiopathy consists of studying the patient's medical history, conducting ultrasound examinations of the vessels and the fundus. X-rays, MRI and CT may also be prescribed.

Treatment of microangiopathy depends on the location of the disease and the causes that caused it. Most often, drug therapy is used, aimed at improving the efficiency of blood microcirculation in tissues, and physiotherapy. In some cases, surgical intervention, cryosurgery or laser coagulation is desirable to restore vascular patency.