Angiology (from Ancient Greek ἀγγεῖον]], angeīon, "vessel"; and -λογία]], ) is the medical specialty dedicated to studying the circulatory system and of the lymphatic system, i.e., arteries, veins and .
In the United Kingdom, this field is more often termed angiology, and in the United States the term vascular medicine is more frequent. The field of vascular medicine (angiology) is the field that deals with preventing, diagnosing, and treating lymphatic vessel and blood vessel related diseases.
Overview
Arterial diseases include the
aorta (
aortic aneurysm/dissection) and arteries supplying the legs, hands, kidneys, brain, intestines. It also covers arterial
thrombosis and
embolism;
vasculitides; and
vasospasm. Naturally, it deals with preventing cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack and
stroke. Venous diseases include venous thrombosis, chronic venous insufficiency, and
. Lymphatic diseases include primary and secondary forms of
lymphedema. It also involves modification of risk factors for vascular disease like high
cholesterol, high
blood pressure.
Cardiovascular risk factors such high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol and others fall under the specialty of vascular medicine.
Vascular medicine training
Vascular medicine (angiology) training is well established in some European countries. The first European educational Working Group was born in 1991 in Milan (EWMA) becoming in 1998 a European Scientific Association VAS Vascular Independent Research and Education European Organization with several European educational programmes: European Fellowship, European Master, CESMA-UEMS European Diploma and Postgrad Courses. In the
United States there are several independent vascular medicine training programs and twelve NIH funded three-year programs as well. These programs are suitable for either Internal medicine specialists as a fellowship or for
cardiologists. In 2005, the first vascular medicine boards were administered by the American Board of Vascular Medicine. For current education and training in vascular medicine, see Society for Vascular Medicine.
Famous Angiologists
-
Erich Minar
-
Michael Lictenberg
-
Tienush Rassaf
-
Gunther Rauh
External links
