Thrombophlebitis (thromboangiitis, inflammation of blood vessels)

THROMBOPHLEBITIS, thromboangiitis, inflammation of blood vessels accompanied by thrombosis. Often observed in local and general infectious processes, for example, in typhus. From a histological side, T. is characterized by more or less deep destructive changes in the vessel wall, as a result of which mural or occlusive thrombosis arises. T. is most often limited, i.e., focal in nature. The inflammatory reaction around the vessel also has a focal, nodular character (nodular thrombophlebitis). When arteries are affected, one speaks of thromboarteritis, when veins are affected, of thrombophlebitis (see). The consequences of thrombophlebitis depend on the nature of the vessel and the extent of the lesion. Thrombophlebitides of small branches may end in complete destruction of the walls and sclerosis of the affected area. In larger branches, sclerosis, hyalinosis of the walls, organization of thrombi with their revascularization, sometimes aneurysmal dilatations, etc., are noted.