Cholesterol embolism syndrome: symptoms, causes, drugs, etc. • hello healthy

Definition

What is a cholesterol embolism?

People with atherosclerosis experience cholesterol buildup on the walls of blood vessels in the skin or other internal organs in the body. If the cholesterol that has accumulated one time is released from the walls of the blood vessels, the pieces of cholesterol that are released can block the flow of blood. As a result, blood flow and oxygen intake are disrupted, causing damage and death to the tissue supplied by these blood vessels. This process is also known as atheroembolism.

Symptoms

What are the symptoms of a cholesterol embolism?

The two main symptoms of a cholesterol embolism are:

The skin turns purplish blue, pain in the legs, and a pulse in the legs
The skin turns purplish blue, kidney damage, and high levels of eosinophils in the blood

One-third of patients with cholesterol embolism experience skin symptoms such as livedo reticularis (the skin turns blue-purple), gangrene, sores, and painful red spots.

Cholesterol fragments that clog blood vessels to other organs can cause other symptoms such as:

Acute renal failure in 25-50% of patients
Retinal ischaemia (eye ischemia)
Pancreatitis
Intestinal infarction

Non-specific symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, headaches, and weight loss also sometimes appear. Interestingly, this condition usually does not cause heart attacks or strokes.

There may be symptoms not listed above. Consult your doctor for information about other symptoms.

Cause

What causes cholesterol embolism?

Cholesterol embolism originates from arteriosclerotic plaques, which can release cholesterol fragments (embolism) into the bloodstream.

This can occur spontaneously, but procedures that disrupt the surface of the plaque, such as angiography, angioplasty, vascular surgery, intra-aortic balloon pumps, and even cardiopulmonary resuscitation, can be triggers. Research shows that 1% of all vascular procedures can trigger cholesterol embolism.

Trauma to the abdomen can also initiate this syndrome if it interferes with the arteriosclerotic plaque in the abdominal aorta.

Medicines used for thrombolysis (to reopen blocked blood vessels after a heart attack or stroke) or anticoagulant drugs (blood thinners) are also thought to trigger this condition, although the risk is very low.

Symptoms of cholesterol embolism are usually seen within hours or days after the procedure or thrombolysis, or 2 months after anticoagulant therapy.

Triggers

Who is at risk for a cholesterol embolism?

People who have atherosclerosis are at risk for cholesterol embolism. This also includes patients with ischemic heart disease or peripheral vascular disease, and people who have diabetes, hypertension, smoke, obesity, are elderly, and have high blood cholesterol levels.

Diagnosis

How do doctors diagnose cholesterol embolism?

Doctors will suspect a person has cholesterol embolism if they have already been diagnosed with atherosclerosis, and now have skin changes, kidney failure, stomach pain, or diarrhea after undergoing a vascular procedure.

To make a diagnosis, the doctor will usually perform a biopsy of the skin or other tissue. This biopsy will show cholesterol crystals as well as gaps in the walls of blood vessels, including blood clots.

In 80% of sufferers, blood tests show eosinophilia.

Other symptoms known from a blood test if you have cholesterol embolism are: