title: Thromboangiitis obliterans successfully treated with phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors.
abstract: Thromboangiitis obliterans, or Buerger's disease, is a non-atherosclerotic, segmental, inflammatory disease affecting the small- and medium-sized vessels of the distal extremities. Other than discontinuation of tobacco, there is no standard-of-care treatment. Although two randomized trials have demonstrated a role for intravenous iloprost, no oral drug has yet been demonstrated to be effective in treating thromboangiitis obliterans. We present the first three reported cases of thromboangiitis obliterans successfully treated with phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors, followed by a discussion of the rationale for the use of these agents in thromboangiitis obliterans.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA aabeles@uchc.edu.
authors.forename: Aryeh M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Abeles
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Mirela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nicolescu
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Zachary
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Pinchover
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Micha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abeles
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000098:blood supply*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D058986:Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013919:Thromboangiitis Obliterans / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D058986:Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors
keywords: Thromboangiitis obliterans; phosphodiesterase inhibitors; therapeutics