The cause of thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO) is still unclear, and it is generally believed to be the result of a combination of factors. The main causes include:
(1) Smoking - both active and passive smokers are at risk. Nicotine can cause vasoconstriction, quitting smoking can improve the condition, but relapse and aggravation will occur after resuming smoking. Although smoking is closely related to this disease, it is not the only factor.
(2) Cold and infection - cold damage can cause vasoconstriction. The incidence in northern China is much higher than in the south. Many TAO patients have skin fungal infections, and infections affect human immune response, which can increase the content of fibrinogen in the blood, making it easy for thrombosis to occur. It cannot yet be confirmed that cold and infection are the main causes of this disease, but they are inducements that exacerbate the effect of vasospasm.
(3) Sex hormones - the vast majority of patients...