Angiopathy

The term angiopathy is used in medicine as a generic term for various diseases and findings where real or perceived changes in the vessels are based.

Most of the term in a narrower sense only for arteriosclerotic changes in the arteries (arteries) is used, often between the infestation mostly very small vessels ( microangiopathy ) and larger vessels ( macroangiopathy, see arteriosclerosis) is distinguished.

Of particular importance to the diabetic angiopathy, which occur as a result of increased blood sugar and as diabetic retinopathy to retinal changes, as diabetic glomerulosclerosis in a renal injury, as diabetic neuropathy to a clinically manifest or subclinical disease of the peripheral nerves and as peripheral diabetic angiopathy ulcers and gangrene in the leg lead.

In a broader sense rarely used include the diseases of the veins ( venopathy ) and lymphatic vessels ( Lymphangiopathie ) to the angiopathy.