THROMBOANGIITIS-OBLITERANS (BUERGERS-DISEASE) IN WOMEN - (A REEVALUATION)

Thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO) is an occlusive vascular disease trad itionally known to be almost exclusive to young male smokers. The dise ase was considered to be extremely rare in women, seen only as isolate d, novel case reports in the literature. In the past decade, however, a dramatic increase in the incidence of female TAO has been observed. In this paper the authors report 7 cases of clinically and angiographi cally verified female TAO. The world literature in regard to the diagn ostic criteria, changing incidence, and etiology is reviewed. They con clude that the increased use of tobacco among young women in the past two to three decades is responsible for this dramatic change.