Microcirculatory disturbance (None)

Microcirculatory disturbance refers to pathological changes or dysfunction within the smallest blood vessels—arterioles, capillaries, venules—collectively known as the microvasculature. These disturbances impair tissue perfusion and oxygen/nutrient delivery at the cellular level. Causes include endothelial cell damage (as seen in sepsis), increased vascular permeability leading to edema, inflammatory responses with cytokine release and leukocyte activation, formation of microthrombi obstructing blood flow, trauma-induced injury of vessel walls or pericytes/smooth muscle cells regulating tone. Clinically significant consequences range from local tissue hypoxia and organ dysfunction up to multi-organ failure if uncorrected. Microcirculatory disturbances are implicated in cardiovascular diseases (such as coronary microvascular angina), diabetes complications due to impaired capillary function/structure, severe infections like septic shock, chronic inflammation states, and other systemic illnesses. Note: "Microcirculatory disturbance" is not a specific molecular target but rather describes a pathophysiological process involving multiple cell types and mechanisms within the vascular system.

Other names

Microcirculatory disordermicrovascular dysfunctionmicrocirculation disorderpoor microcirculation

Not applicable to this entry; see above for general therapeutic approaches.