What Are The Signs Of Subclavian Steal Syndrome?

Neurological Deficits

Subclavian steal syndrome is caused by a condition referred to as atherosclerosis, where a substance called plaque builds up inside of the arterial walls. Plaque is a hard calcified substance made of cholesterol, immune system components, and other fats. A piece of this plaque can break loose from its original location and become lodged in blood vessels around the body. When a piece of plaque becomes lodged in the subclavian artery, it can trigger a mechanism that has adverse effects on the patient's brain tissues.

When an individual's subclavian artery is obstructed, the circle of Willis in the base of the brain can cause blood to be redirected from the brain tissues to the arm via the vertebral artery. When blood is taken away from the brain tissues to help supply the impaired arm, the patient can experience neurological deficits when the brain cells do not get enough oxygen. The patient may experience neurological deficits such as confusion, vertigo, vision loss, and loss of consciousness.

Arm Claudication

Claudication is a term used to describe when an individual feels muscle cramping, muscle pain, and muscle fatigue when they are physically using their muscles. Claudication has been described by affected individuals as many different sensations in the muscle, including weakness, tiredness, aching, heaviness, deadweight feeling, and burning. These symptoms tend to manifest when the muscles of the affected part of the individual's body are being exercised and dissipate within a couple of minutes at rest.

Arm claudication is a symptom that can develop in a subclavian steal syndrome patient because the blood flow to the muscles and nerves in the affected arm has been obstructed. When the muscles do not receive enough oxygen, they have to carry out energy-making processes in a different way than they usually would. This secondary energy-producing mechanism in the muscle cells is not nearly as efficient and produces different byproducts than the primary mechanism, which causes the patient to experience arm claudication when they are physically using the affected arm.