ABSTRACT
Vascular inflammatory conditions of the limbs may present in the context of a wide variety of clinical syndromes, including Buerger’s disease, scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Takayasu’s disease and giant cell arteritis. These diseases are characterised by inflammatory cell invasion of arteries causing swelling, luminal obstruction and often thrombosis. Operative and endovascular techniques are rarely indicated in their treatment and should only be used in carefully selected patients. Surgical biopsy of a vessel or muscle may be useful in the diagnosis of vasculitic syndromes.
