Angiopathy is the generic term for a disease of the
blood vessels (
arteries,
veins, and
capillaries). The best known and most prevalent angiopathy is the diabetic angiopathy, a
complication that may occur in
chronic diabetes. There are two types of angiopathy:
macroangiopathy and
microangiopathy. In macroangiopathy,
fat and
blood clots build up in the large blood vessels, stick to the vessel walls, and block the flow of
blood. In microangiopathy, the walls of the smaller blood vessels become so thick and weak that they
bleed, leak
protein, and slow the flow of blood through the body. The decrease of blood flow through
stenosis or clot formation impair the flow of
oxygen to
cells and
biological tissues (called
ischemia) and lead to their death (
necrosis and
gangrene, which in turn may require
amputation). Thus, tissues which are very sensitive to oxygen levels, such as the
retina, develop microangiopathy and may cause
blindness (so-called proliferative diabetic
retinopathy). Damage to
nerve cells may cause peripheral
neuropathy, and to
kidney cells, diabetic
nephropathy (
Kimmelstiel-Wilson syndrome).
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any disease of the blood vessels (veins, arteries, capillaries) or lymphatic vessels.
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