Arterial disease in young adults. Nosology and changes in concepts with particular reference to arterial disease in females.

Concepts have changed profoundly since the seminal descriptions of endarteritis obliterans by Von Winiwarter and of thromboangiitis obliterans by Leo Buerger. Atherosclerosis is now viewed as the result of abnormal deposits within arteries rather than as a senile process, and the term thromboangiitis obliterans (TO) has been replaced by the term thromboangiosis. Careful clinical observation and modern investigations have demonstrated that young adults can develop a number of TO-like arterial diseases due to various causes. These diseases can occur either concomitantly with atherosclerosis or alone. The nosology of these conditions is discussed based on available data.