Orientador: Regina Kiomi Takahira / Resumo: A doença renal crônica (DRC) acomete principalmente cães idosos e tem como característica principal a perda irreversível da função renal. A DRC em cães promove alterações metabólicas graves, caracterizadas frequentemente pela azotemia, hipoalbuminemia e anemia não regenerativa. Tanto a azotemia quanto a uremia predispõem a alterações hemostáticas que podem levar a quadros hemorrágicos. Além das disfunções plaquetárias, deficiência de anticoagulantes naturais e redução da fibrinólise são fatores que predispõem ao tromboembolismo. Este trabalho tem como objetivo avaliar as possíveis tendências hemorrágicas ou trombóticas em cães com DRC. Foram selecionados 20 cães saudáveis (grupo controle) com exames dentro da normalidade e 17 cães com DRC em estágios III ou IV classificados segundo a IRIS e a relação proteína/creatirina urinária maior que um (grupo DRC). As amostras de sangue para a realização da tromboelastometria (TEM), agregação plaquetária, tempo de protrombina (TP), tempo de tromboplastina parcial ativada (TTPA) e concentração de fibrinogênio foram colhidas em momento único para ambos os grupos após os critérios de inclusão serem confirmados. A análise estatística foi realizada de acordo com a distribuição das variáveis, ao nível de 5% de significância. No presente estudo foi possível observar um estado de hipercoagulabilidade sanguínea nos cães com DRC. Na TEM com o ativador de via extrínseca, observou-se encurtamento no tempo de coagulação e do tempo de formação do coá... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects mostly older dogs and its main characteristic is the irreversible loss of kidney function. CKD in dogs promotes serious metabolic alterations, often characterized by azotemia, hypoalbuminemia and non-regenerative anemia. Azotemia and uremia predispose the hemostatic abnormalities that can lead to hemorrhagic cases. In addition to platelet dysfunction, deficiency of natural anticoagulants and reduced fibrinolysis are factors that predispose to thromboembolism. This work aims to evaluate the possible bleeding or thrombotic tendencies in dogs with CKD. 20 healthy dogs were selected (control group) with tests within normal limits and 17 dogs with CKD in stages III or IV classified according to IRIS and urine protein to creatinine ratio greater than one (CKD group). Blood samples for the realization of thromboelastometry (TEM), platelet aggregation, prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and fibrinogen concentration were collected at one time for both groups after the inclusion criteria had been confirmed. Statistical analysis performed according to the distribution of the variable at the 5% level of significance. In the present study, we observed a state of hypercoagulable blood in dogs with CKD. In TEM with the extrinsic pathway activator, there was shortening of the clotting time and clot formation time, increasing the alpha angle and the maximum clot firmness, and reducing the maximum lysis in dogs with CKD comp... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

A Case Report of Catastrophic Antiphospholipid Syndrome with Libman-Sacks Presenting as Interstitial Pneumonia Chassidy Sumler Martin, MS, Rocco Cannistraro, MD Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune condition characterized by vascular thromboses and a positive antiphospholipid antibody. Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS) is a rare disease that often results in death. CAPS is the most severe form of APS, which can develop in a short period of time and occurs in less than 1% of people with APS. CAPS involves multiple organs simultaneously with diffuse microvascular and macrovascular involvement. Here, we present a case of catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome presenting as interstitial pneumonia that rapidly progressed to acute renal failure, acute ischemic cerebral infarcts, cardiac valvular vegetations, and heart failure. This case report aims to bring awareness of prompt medical suspicion and treatment of CAPS in hopes of improving disease outcomes.

Background: Chronic enteropathies (CE) predispose dogs to thromboembolic disease, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Humans with CE have decreased activity of a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with a thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13 (ADAMTS13), a von Willebrand factor (vWF) cleaving enzyme, and increased circulating vWF. The primary aim of this study is to assess plasma ADAMTS13 activity, vWF antigen (vWF:Ag) concentration, and vWF collagen binding activity (vWF:CBA) in dogs with CE. Hypotheses: Dogs with CE have reduced plasma ADAMTS13 activity, increased vWF:Ag, and increased vWF:CBA compared to healthy control dogs. Animals: Twenty privately-owned dogs with CE and 40 healthy dogs were recruited from a specialty hospital population. Methods: Prospective observational study. Dogs were confirmed to have CE using histopathology. ADAMTS13 activity was measured using a commercially available ELISA kit (DiapharmaⓇ) in 20 dogs with CE and 40 healthy control dogs. Plasma vWF:Ag was assessed in 20 dogs with CE and 20 healthy control dogs. Plasma vWF:CBA was assessed in 19 dogs with CE and 20 healthy control dogs. For statistical analysis, an unpaired t-test was used for normally distributed data and Wilcoxon rank sum was used for non-Gaussian distribution. Significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: Plasma ADAMTS13 activity and vWF:Ag were not significantly different compared to healthy dogs (P = 0.07, P = 0.16, respectively). Plasma vWF:CBA was significantly decreased compared to healthy dogs (P = 0.007). Conclusions and clinical relevance: Plasma ADAMTS13 activity was not significantly different in dogs with CE compared to healthy dogs and is unlikely to be the primary mechanism for hypercoagulability associated with CE. Forty-three percent of CE dogs with hypoalbuminemia had ADAMTS13 activity below reference interval. Further studies are warranted to evaluate ADAMTS13 activity in a subset of dogs with CE, including those with protein losing enteropathy and thromboembolism. / Master of Science / Background: Dogs with chronic gastrointestinal disease, or chronic enteropathies (CE), often have abnormal blood clotting which predisposes to thrombosis. The mechanisms leading to this abnormal blood clotting are poorly understood. Humans with CE also suffer from abnormal blood clotting and thrombosis. Decreased activity of a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with a thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13 (ADAMTS13), a von Willebrand factor (vWF) cleaving enzyme, and increased circulating vWF have been reported as contributors to this abnormal blood clotting in people. Von Willebrand factor is a protein that allows platelets to stick together and adhere to damaged tissue to facilitate blood clot formation. The concentration of vWF can be measured using vWF antigen (vWF:Ag) and the activity of vWF can be measured using vWF collagen binding activity (vWF:CBA). Hypothesis: Dogs with CE have reduced plasma ADAMTS13 activity, increased vWF:Ag, and increased vWF:CBA compared to healthy control dogs. Animals: Twenty privately-owned dogs with CE and 40 healthy dogs were recruited from a hospital population. Methods: Prospective observational study. Plasma ADAMTS13 activity, vWF:Ag and vWF:CBA were assessed in dogs with CE and compared to healthy control dogs. Results: There was no difference in plasma ADAMTS13 activity and vWF:Ag between the two groups. The mean vWF:CBA was significantly lower in CE dogs compared to healthy dogs. Conclusions and clinical relevance: Reduced ADAMTS13 activity is unlikely to be the primary mechanism for abnormal blood clotting in dogs with CE.

Cette étude avait comme objectif d’évaluer la coagulation par l’utilisation de la thrombélastographie (TEG®) et de la génération de thrombine (GT) chez des beagles en santé recevant de la prednisone ainsi que chez des chiens atteints d’hyperadrénocorticisme (HAC). Dans un premier temps, six beagles adultes en santé ont été évalués dans une étude prospective longitudinale au courant de laquelle chaque individu recevait 1 mg/kg/jour de prednisone par la voie orale pendant 2 semaines. Après un arrêt de traitement d’une durée de 6 semaines, ils ont finalement reçu 4 mg/kg/jour de prednisone pour encore 2 semaines. Les tracés TEG® et les mesures de la GT ont été obtenus au temps 0, à la fin des 6 semaines d’interruption de traitement, ainsi qu’à la suite des 2 dosages de prednisone. Suite aux 2 traitements avec la prednisone, des résultats significatifs,lorsque comparés aux valeurs de base, ont été obtenus pour la cinétique du caillot (« clot kinetics » ou K), l’angle alpha (α) et l’amplitude maximale (« maximal amplitude » ou MA). La GT avait augmenté de manière significative mais seulement après la dose de 1 mg/kg/jour de prednisone. Dans un deuxième temps, 16 chiens atteints d’HAC ont été évalués avant l’initiation d’un traitement pour leur condition. Quinze chiens ont été évalués par TEG® et 15 par GT. Les données obtenues ont ensuite été comparées aux valeurs normales. L’analyse par TEG® a démontré que 12/15 chiens avaient au moins un paramètre suggérant un état d’hypercoagulabilité. L’analyse par GT a démontré que 4/15 chiens avaient des changements compatibles avec un état d’hypercoagulabilité. Un test t-pairé pour des valeurs de variance inégales a démontré que le groupe de chiens atteints d’HAC avait des tracés hypercoagulables et un potentiel endogène de thrombine (« endogenous thrombin potential » ou ETP) plus élevé, lorsque comparé à la population de référence. / The purpose of this study was to use thrombelastography (TEG®) and thrombin generation (TG) to evaluate coagulation in healthy beagles receiving oral prednisone as well as client-owned dogs diagnosed with hyperadrenocorticism (HAC).Six healthy adult beagles were used in a prospective ongitudinal study whereby all dogs received 1 mg/kg of prednisone orally once daily for two weeks, followed by a 6-week washout period and then 4 mg/kg of prednisone orally once daily for two weeks. TEG® tracings and TG measurements were obtained at baseline, at the end of the washout period and at the end of both corticosteroid trials. Significant results as compared to baseline were obtained for clot kinetics (K), alpha angle (α)and maximum amplitude (MA), with tracings compatible with a hypercoagulable profile following both corticosteroid trials. Thrombin generation resulted in a significant increase in endogenous thrombin potential (ETP) after the 1 mg/kg/day trial only. Secondly, sixteen dogs affected by HAC were evaluated. Fifteen dogs were evaluated by TEG® and 15 dogs were evaluated by TG before treatment and compared to the normal reference values. For the TEG® analysis, 12/15 dogs had at least one parameter that suggested hypercoagulability. A paired t test for values with unequal variance was used to compare the HAC dogs to the healthy dogs and found that HAC dogs have hypercoagulable TEG® tracings. The same results were found when TG was used with the ETP elevated in the HAC dogs. However, when dogs were evaluated individually, only 4/15 had hypercoagulable TG results.

Cette étude avait comme objectif d’évaluer la coagulation par l’utilisation de la thrombélastographie (TEG®) et de la génération de thrombine (GT) chez des beagles en santé recevant de la prednisone ainsi que chez des chiens atteints d’hyperadrénocorticisme (HAC). Dans un premier temps, six beagles adultes en santé ont été évalués dans une étude prospective longitudinale au courant de laquelle chaque individu recevait 1 mg/kg/jour de prednisone par la voie orale pendant 2 semaines. Après un arrêt de traitement d’une durée de 6 semaines, ils ont finalement reçu 4 mg/kg/jour de prednisone pour encore 2 semaines. Les tracés TEG® et les mesures de la GT ont été obtenus au temps 0, à la fin des 6 semaines d’interruption de traitement, ainsi qu’à la suite des 2 dosages de prednisone. Suite aux 2 traitements avec la prednisone, des résultats significatifs,lorsque comparés aux valeurs de base, ont été obtenus pour la cinétique du caillot (« clot kinetics » ou K), l’angle alpha (α) et l’amplitude maximale (« maximal amplitude » ou MA). La GT avait augmenté de manière significative mais seulement après la dose de 1 mg/kg/jour de prednisone. Dans un deuxième temps, 16 chiens atteints d’HAC ont été évalués avant l’initiation d’un traitement pour leur condition. Quinze chiens ont été évalués par TEG® et 15 par GT. Les données obtenues ont ensuite été comparées aux valeurs normales. L’analyse par TEG® a démontré que 12/15 chiens avaient au moins un paramètre suggérant un état d’hypercoagulabilité. L’analyse par GT a démontré que 4/15 chiens avaient des changements compatibles avec un état d’hypercoagulabilité. Un test t-pairé pour des valeurs de variance inégales a démontré que le groupe de chiens atteints d’HAC avait des tracés hypercoagulables et un potentiel endogène de thrombine (« endogenous thrombin potential » ou ETP) plus élevé, lorsque comparé à la population de référence. / The purpose of this study was to use thrombelastography (TEG®) and thrombin generation (TG) to evaluate coagulation in healthy beagles receiving oral prednisone as well as client-owned dogs diagnosed with hyperadrenocorticism (HAC).Six healthy adult beagles were used in a prospective ongitudinal study whereby all dogs received 1 mg/kg of prednisone orally once daily for two weeks, followed by a 6-week washout period and then 4 mg/kg of prednisone orally once daily for two weeks. TEG® tracings and TG measurements were obtained at baseline, at the end of the washout period and at the end of both corticosteroid trials. Significant results as compared to baseline were obtained for clot kinetics (K), alpha angle (α)and maximum amplitude (MA), with tracings compatible with a hypercoagulable profile following both corticosteroid trials. Thrombin generation resulted in a significant increase in endogenous thrombin potential (ETP) after the 1 mg/kg/day trial only. Secondly, sixteen dogs affected by HAC were evaluated. Fifteen dogs were evaluated by TEG® and 15 dogs were evaluated by TG before treatment and compared to the normal reference values. For the TEG® analysis, 12/15 dogs had at least one parameter that suggested hypercoagulability. A paired t test for values with unequal variance was used to compare the HAC dogs to the healthy dogs and found that HAC dogs have hypercoagulable TEG® tracings. The same results were found when TG was used with the ETP elevated in the HAC dogs. However, when dogs were evaluated individually, only 4/15 had hypercoagulable TG results.

Les tests de coagulation actuellement disponibles en médecine vétérinaire ne parviennent pas à détecter l’état hypercoagulable de manière fiable. Les tests usuels de l’hémostase (ex : PT, PTT, antithrombine, D-dimères, etc.) n’évaluent malheureusement qu’une infime portion de la coagulation sanguine. Les tests globaux de l’hémostase, incluant la thromboélastographie et la génération de thrombine, permettent une évaluation plus complète de l’hémostase, incluant l’équilibre entre les facteurs procoagulants et anticoagulants. Ceux-ci comportent cependant encore certaines lacunes quant à leur performance diagnostique. L’étude présentée dans ce mémoire propose des modifications à la génération de thrombine conventionnelle dans le but d’identifier un état hypercoagulable chez des chiens malades. Plus précisément, nous avons comparé les effets in vitro de la thrombomoduline et de daltéparine sur la génération de thrombine réalisée chez des chiens sains et des chiens malades, pour démontrer une déficience en anticoagulants endogènes (i.e. protéine C et antithrombine) chez ces derniers. Pour se faire, 10 chiens sains et 10 chiens malades ont été sélectionnés en fonction de leur historique, examen physique et analyses sanguines. Du plasma pauvre en plaquettes a été obtenu pour chaque chien à partir de sang total citraté, aliquoté et congelé à -80 ̊Celsius pendant moins de 18 mois. La génération de thrombine a été mesurée sur le plasma décongelé à l'aide de la méthode Calibrated Automated Thrombogram. Les mesures ont d’abord été réalisées sans anticoagulant, puis avec l’addition de thrombomoduline et de trois concentrations de daltéparine (0,2, 0,4 et 0,6 U/ml). Le potentiel de thrombine endogène (ETP), le temps d’initiation (Lag time), le temps pour l’atteinte du pic (TTPeak) et le pic (Peak) ont été obtenus et analysés à l'aide d'un modèle linéaire mixte (p < 0,05). Aucune différence n’était observée entre les groupes avant l’ajout d’anticoagulants. L’ajout de thrombomoduline et de daltéparine entraînait une diminution significative de l'ETP et du Peak dans les deux groupes. Cependant, l’effet de ces deux anticoagulants étaient significativement moins marqué dans le groupe malade par rapport au groupe sain, à l'exception du Peak aux concentrations de daltéparine les plus élevées (0,4 U/ml et 0,6 U/ml). Cette modification de la génération de thrombine conventionnelle permet donc de mettre en évidence un déficit en anticoagulant endogène chez les chiens malades, chez lesquels la génération de thrombine est moins affectée par l’ajout in vitro de substances anticoagulantes. Par conséquent, effectuer la génération de thrombine avec et sans l'ajout d'anticoagulants exogènes pourrait être bénéfique pour la détection des états d'hypercoagulables chez le chien. / Current coagulation testing in veterinary medicine fails to reliably and consistently identify hypercoagulable states. Traditional coagulation assays (e.g. PT, PTT, antithrombin, D-dimers, etc.) only assess a small portion of the process of coagulation. Global coagulation assays, including thromboelastography and thrombin generation, allow a more complete evaluation of hemostasis, including the balance of procoagulant versus anticoagulant blood components. However, these tests still have shortcomings in terms of their diagnostic utility. The study presented in this thesis investigates modifications to conventional thrombin generation techniques as an attempt to better identify hypercoagulable states in sick dogs. More specifically, we aimed to compare the in vitro effects of thrombomodulin and dalteparin on thrombin generation performed in healthy dogs and dogs presented with illnesses associated with hypercoagulable states. We hypothesized that addition of these agents would demonstrate endogenous anticoagulant deficiencies (i.e. protein C and antithrombin) in sick dogs. Ten healthy dogs and ten sick dogs were selected based on history, physical examination and complete blood work. Platelet-poor plasma was obtained from citrated whole blood, aliquoted and frozen at -80 ̊Celsius for less than 18 months. Thrombin generation was measured on thawed plasma using a Calibrated Automated Thrombogram assay. Measurements were performed without anticoagulant and with the addition of thrombomodulin and dalteparin at three dilutions (0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 U/ml). Endogenous thrombin potential (ETP), lag time (Lag time), time to peak (TTPeak) and peak thrombin generation (Peak) were recorded and analyzed using a mixed linear model (p < 0.05). No difference was observed between the groups before the addition of anticoagulants. The addition of thrombomodulin and dalteparin significantly decreased ETP and Peak thrombin generation in both groups. However, the effects of both anticoagulants were significantly less in the diseased group compared to the healthy group, except for Peak at the highest dalteparin concentrations (0.4 U/ ml and 0.6 U/ml). The addition of thrombomodulin and dalteparin to plasma in vitro highlights an endogenous anticoagulant deficiency in this population of sick dogs, by failing to reduce thrombin generation to the same extent as in healthy dogs. Therefore, performing thrombin generation with and without the addition of exogenous anticoagulants might be beneficial for the detection of hypercoagulable states in the dog.

No description available.

The thesis analyses the female patients' data from Clinical hematology department in České Budějovice hospital from year 2014 to 2015 and tries to statistically confirm connection between D-dimer level and hypercoagulable states described in previous bachelor thesis. D-dimer assay is due to negative predictive value and high sensitivity an initial laboratory test to rule out tromboembolic disease. However, it has low specificity. The elevated level of D-dimer is observed in conditions like infection, trauma, acute cancer, recent surgery or pregnancy and last studies showed increased D-dimer level even in combination with inherited hypercoagulable states. Thus, it is necessary to analyse the level of D-dimer in pregnant women related to specific hypercoagulable states. Moreover, the thesis analyses the influence of other factors like anticoagulation therapy on D-dimer level and tries to find connection between D-dimer level and pregnancy associated complication, birth weight or a type of delivery.

Introduction: L’obésité est un facteur connu d’hypercoagulabilité in vitro et in vivo. Cependant peu d’études se sont intéressées aux facteurs de risque d’hypercoagulabilité biologique chez le patient obèse morbide, à sa variation après chirurgie bariatrique (CB) ainsi qu’aux facteurs de risques de maladie thromboembolique veineuse (MTEV) postopératoire après CB. Matériel et Méthodes: Tous les patients destinés à une CB entre le 1er Septembre 2014 et le 31 Janvier 2016 au CHU de Brest étaient éligibles pour notre étude de cohorte locale et ont bénéficié d’un large bilan sanguin préopératoire et à 12 mois postopératoires, incluant des tests de génération de thrombine (GT) avec mesure du potentiel endogène de thrombine (ETP), une méthode validée globale d’évaluation de la coagulation. En parallèle, nous avons extrait de la base du SNIIRAM de l’assurance maladie, tous les patients opérés d’une CB entre le 1er Janvier 2012 et le 30 Septembre 2014 et déterminer la fréquence d’une MTEV dans les 90 jours suivants la CB. Résultats: Cent-deux patients étaient inclus dans notre étude de cohorte brestoise. Les facteurs de risque (OR (95% IC)) de présenter un ETP dans le 4ème quartile de distribution étaient : taux de cholestérol total augmenté (Pas=1mmol/l) (2,6 (1,2-5,4);P =0,01) et taux de fibrinogène augmenté (Pas=1 g/l) (2,2; (1,1-4,5);P = 0,03). A un an post-opératoire (%perte de poids: 33.1±8.3), on retrouvait une baisse significative de l’ETP (%) (111 (96-129) vs. 84 (72-102) ; P<0.001), du taux de fibrinogène (g/l) (4,2±0,8 vs. 3,6±0,8 ; P<0.001) et une baisse non significative du taux de cholestérol total (mmol/l) (4,8±0,8 vs. 4,6±1,0; P=0,08). Apres extraction à partir du SNIIRAM, 110.824 patients étaient inclus. Le taux de MTEV dans les 90 jours était de 0,51%. Les principaux facteurs de risque de MTEV retrouvés en analyse multivariée étaient (P<0.001): un antécédent de MTEV (6,41 (4,50-9,14)), des complications post-opératoires (9,23 (7,30-11,68)), une défaillance cardiaque (2,45 (1,48-4,06), une chirurgie par laparotomie (2,38 (1,59-3,45)), un IMC ≥ 50 kg/m² (1,67 (1,28-2,18)), une sleeve gastrectomy (2,02 (1,39-2,93)) et une procédure de deuxième intention (1,37 (1,10-1,72)). Conclusion : Sur une étude de cohorte de plus de 110.000 patients, nous identifions un taux faible de MTEV dans les 90 jours post-opératoires après CB dépendant de facteurs de risque individuels et liés à la chirurgie. De surcroit nous identifions une baisse de la GT à 1 an post-opératoire en parallèle à une perte de poids massive et à une diminution de l’état inflammatoire. / Introduction: Obese patients are known to be in an in vitro and in an in vivo hypercoagulable state relative to normal-weight patients. Studies focusing exclusively on morbidly obese patients are lacking. Our study aimed to identify markers of enhanced coagulability, to compare its evolution one year after bariatric surgery (BS) and to determine risk factors of venous thromboembolism (VTE) within 90 postoperative days. Methods: All patients scheduled for bariatric surgery (BS) between September 1, 2014 and January 31, 2016 in Brest University Hospital were eligible for our prospective local study. In vitro coagulation was assessed using thrombin generation (TG) tests (Endogenous thrombin potential (ETP)). Data on all patients undergoing BS in France from 1st January 2012 to 30 September 2014 were also extracted from the database of the French national health care (SNIIRAM) to determine the rate of VTE in the 90 days after surgery. Results: One hundred and two patients were included in our study assessing TG. Risk factors for enhanced TG (ETP in the 4th quartile) were increased total cholesterol level (Step=1mmol/l) (2.6 (1.2-5.4); P =0.01) and increased fibrinogen level (Step=1g/l) (2.2 (1.1-4.5); P=0.03). At 12 postoperative months, we found a significant lower ETP (%) (111 (96-129) vs. 84 (72-102 P<0.001)), fibrinogen level (g/l) (4.2±0.8 vs. 3.6±0.8; P<0.001)) and a non-significant trend for lower total cholesterol level (mmol/l) (4.8±0.8 vs. 4.6±1.0; P=0.08). After extraction of the SNIIRAM database, 110,824 patients were included with a rate of VTE of 0.51% (90 post-operative days). Main risk factors for postoperative VTE were (p<0.001): history of VTE (6.41 (4.50-9.14)), postoperative complications (9.23 (7.30-11.68)), heart failure (2.45 (1.48-4.06), open approach (2.38 (1.59-3.45)), BMI ≥ 50 kg/m² (1.67 (1.28-2.18)), sleeve gastrectomy (2.02 (1.39-2.93)) and redo procedure (1.37 (1.10-1.72)). Conclusions: Our study highlights the role of total cholesterol and blood inflammatory marker levels in enhancing TG in morbidly obese patients and shows a decrease of TG at 12 months after BS. The risk of postoperative VTE after BS is low depending on the individual risk level.

Buerger disease is characterized by progressive distal extremity ischemia in persons with recent tobacco consumption. Typically, affected persons are young men. There have been case reports of Buerger disease in older men. Almost all of the reported cases were characterized with progressive, severe disease requiring amputation. We report a case of an older man with features of Buerger disease without significant proximal progression despite active smoking. Arteriographic and pathologic studies confirmed the diagnosis.