Arteriosclerosis (Hardening of the Arteries): Complications

The following are the most important diseases or complications that can be caused by atherosclerosis (arteriosclerosis, hardening of the arteries):

Eyes and eye appendages (H00-H59).

  • Visual disturbances up to amaurosis (blindness).

Skin and subcutaneous tissue (L00-L99)

  • Trophic disorders due to decreased blood flow.

Cardiovascular system (I00-I99)

  • Aortic sclerosis – remodeling of the aortic wall caused by atherosclerosis.
  • Apoplexy (stroke)
  • Abdominal aortic aneurysm (BAA) – pathological dilation of the abdominal aorta (aorta).
  • Carotid stenosis (carotid artery stenosis)
  • Hypertension (high blood pressure)
  • Coronary artery disease (CAD) – narrowing of the coronary arteries due to atherosclerosis with the possible consequence of myocardial infarction (heart attack).
  • Myocardial infarction (heart attack)
  • Heart failure (cardiac insufficiency)
  • Peripheral arterial occlusive disease (pAVK) – progressive narrowing or occlusion of the arteries supplying the arms / (more often) legs, usually due to atherosclerosis (arteriosclerosis, arteriosclerosis).
  • Cerebral atherosclerosis

Mouth, esophagus (food pipe), stomach and intestines (K00-K67; K90-K93).

  • Ischemic bowel disease – reduced blood flow to the digestive organs caused by constriction of the vessels.

Psyche – nervous system (F00-F99; G00-G99).

  • Cerebrovascular insufficiency – limitation of brain function due to decreased oxygen supply.
  • Transient ischemic attack (TIA) – sudden onset of impaired blood flow to the brain, resulting in neurologic dysfunction that resolves within 24 hours
  • Erectile dysfunction (ED) – erectile dysfunction.

Genitourinary tract (kidneys, urinary tract – sex organs) (N00-N99).