Abstract
Critical ischemia is defined as the presence of ischemic symptoms at rest. It identifies patients with high risk of imminent tissue loss. Critical ischemia in SSc results from progressive microvascular insufficiency but occasionally it may result from macrovascular compromise by emboli, thrombosis or vasculitis. Outcome of critical ischemia is contingent on the duration of ischemia, presences of comorbidities, prompt institution of appropriate workup and therapy. Timely and comprehensive therapy is key to prevent loss of threatened tissues. Therapies vary based on location of ischemia and the severity of symptoms. Primary prevention and control of modifiable risk factors remain paramount in the ongoing care of patients.
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Huffstuter, J.G., Kahaleh, B. (2021). Critical Ischemia. In: Matucci-Cerinic, M., Denton, C.P. (eds) Practical Management of Systemic Sclerosis in Clinical Practice. In Clinical Practice. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-53736-4_8
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