Leriche Syndrome - Symptoms, Causes, Radiology, Treatment

Leriche syndrome was 1st reported by scientist named leriche. It is a disease in which blockage of arteries occur due to blood coagulation i.e. thrombosis. This syndrome occurs mostly in distal renal artery. This syndrome is also known as aortoiliac occlusive disease. Basically it is the term representing a group of symptoms associated with peripheral arterial disease in legs. In this syndrome, the blood flow shows blockage in area of stomach. Specifically in men the blockage occurs in the arteries supplying blood to penis. Usually young males are susceptible to this disease but women and older patients are also reported with this leriche syndrome.

Leriche Syndrome Symptoms

               
Leriche syndrome usually show the following symptoms depending upon the artery get blocked due to thrombosis:

• Claudication (cramping in the lower leg due to not sufficient blood supply to leg)
• Numbness in leg and the patient also feel weakness.
• Severe pain in the thighs, hips and the area of buttocks which is the intermittent claudication.
• Erectile dysfunction also occurs as a symptom.
• The pulse rate of the arteries in thighs is low.
• Due to lower blood supply to legs, the patient may feel fatigue in the legs and lower abdominal area.

Leriche Syndrome Causes

               
Basically this syndrome is caused due to the blockage of arteries because of thrombosis. So, the causes of thrombosis are as follows:

• Atherosclerosis is the most common cause behind this syndrome.
• Cigarette smokers are more susceptible to leriche syndrome as cigarette blocks the arteries with plaque.
• Hypercholesterolemia (increased level of cholesterol in body i.e. LDL) also contribute towards the formation of plaques in arteries.
• This syndrome normally occurs in patient with AIOD as compare to the person having infra-inguinal occlusive disease. And it is also seen that the patients with AIOD also have diabetes along with this.

Leriche Syndrome Radiology

               
There are two types angiography used to diagnose the leriche syndrome. The CT angiography and the person not responding to CT angiography undergo MR angiography which is more enhanced technology.

• CT angiography in this technique the clear visual result is seen on the reports. The occlusion and the stenosis is clearly identified in the CT angiography. Also the type of thrombosis and the worsening of condition is seen with CT angiography. The worse condition is referred to stent graft placement.
• MR angiography in this technique the magnetic resonance is used for the angiography. This is more advanced as compare to CT angiography.

Leriche Syndrome Treatment

                 
The treatment involves surgical intervention as well as dietary modalities. In surgical intervention the techniques used are angioplasty and vascular bypass. Stent is also placed in the arteries via kissing balloon angioplasty as the stents placed are touching each other in distal part of aorta. Grafting is another treatment option in leriche syndrome.Femoral bypass is also done as treatment of leriche syndrome known as aortobifemporal bypass If in aorta, axillobifemporal bypass if in the axillary artery of stomach. Another technique used is the percutaneous Tran’s luminal angioplasty and stent placing in arteries.