Ultrasound examination of the upper extremity vessels in the early diagnosis of peripheral angiodystonic syndrome of occupational etiology

Introduction. The cardiovascular system reacts to almost all occupational hazards. Various methods for diagnostics, in particular ultrasound, may help to identify preclinical forms of the disease.

The study aims to development of criteria for early diagnosis of occupational diseases of the vessels of the upper extremities in machine-building workers.

Materials and methods. One hundred twenty-six workers of a machine-building plant were examined using standard clinical and laboratory methods, ultrasound examination of the vessels of the upper extremities and X-ray examination of the hands.

Results. Laboring job, hand-arm and whole-body vibration, and noise with an average work experience of 21 years are risk factors for spastic changes in the vessels of the upper extremities in workers of machine-building production. X-ray changes in the hands are determined in 83% of cases and manifest themselves as a violation of local blood circulation, cystic restructuring in the bones of the wrists, and peri-articular osteopenia. Characteristic signs of vascular pathology detected by ultrasound are an increase in the resistance index with the preservation of speed indices (in 100%), impaired venous outflow (in 82%), and pathological tortuosity of blood vessels (in 76%).

Limitations. We did not standardize workers depending on tobacco smoking due to the low number of workers in certain occupations.

Conclusion. The results of ultrasound examination of the main vessels of the upper extremities in power engineering workers showed the presence of spastic vascular changes, which, with further exposure to occupational hazards, develop into angiodystonic syndrome, which is one of the syndromes of effects of vibration or polyneuropathy.

Compliance with ethical standards: the Local ethics committee of North-West Public Health Research Center approved this study (minutes of the meeting No. 23.1 from 28.10.2020).

Contribution:
Ulanovskaya E.V. — concept and design of the study, data collection and processing, text writing;
Shilov V.V. — concept and design of the study, editing;
Kovshov A.A. — statistical processing, editing;
Kuprina N.I. — data collection;
Nikanov A.N. — editing.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version. 

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest. 

Acknowledgement. The study had no sponsorship. 

Received: May 17, 2022 / Accepted: August 04, 2022 / Published: September 14, 2022