Skip to Content
800-533-8762
  • Careers
  • Newsroom
  • Health Care Professionals
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
UPMC
  • Find a Doctor
  • Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
      Allergy & Immunology Behavioral & Mental Health Cancer Ear, Nose & Throat Endocrinology Gastroenterology Heart & Vascular Imaging Neurosciences Orthopaedics
      Physical Rehabilitation Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Primary Care Senior Services Sports Medicine Telemedicine Transplant Surgery Walk-In Care Weight Management Women’s Health
      See all Services
    • Services by Region
    • Find a UPMC health care facility close to you quickly by browsing by region.
      UPMC in Western Pa. Western Pa. and New York
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Services
  • Locations
    • Locations by Type
    • Locations by Type
      UPMC hospitals
      Hospitals
      Physical Therapy
      Physical Therapy
      Urgent care
      Walk-In Care
      UPMC Outpatient Centers
      Outpatient Centers
      UPMC Imaging Services
      Imaging
      Community Health Centers
      Community Health Centers
      See All Locations
    • Locations by Region
    • Locations by Region
      UPMC in Southwest Pa. Southwest Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Northwest Pa and Ny. Northwest Pa. & Western N.Y.
      UPMC in West Central Pa. West Central Pa.
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Locations
  • Patients & Visitors
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
      Patients and Visitors Resources Pay a Bill Classes & Events Medical Records Health Library Patient Information
      Patient Portals Privacy Information Shared Decision Making Traveling Patients Visitor Information
      Man uses mobile phone
      Pay a Bill
      Nurse reviews medical chart
      Request Medical Records
  • Patient Portals
  • Find Covid-19 updates
  • Schedule an appointment
  • Request medical records
  • Pay a bill
  • Learn about financial assistance
  • Find classes & events
  • Send a patient an eCard
  • Make a donation
  • Volunteer
  • Read HealthBeat blog
  • Explore UPMC Careers
Skip to Content
UPMC
  • Patient Portals
  • For Patients & Visitors
    • Find a Doctor
    • Locations
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Pay a Bill
    • Services
    • More
      • Medical Records
      • Financial Assistance
      • Classes & Events
      • HealthBeat Blog
      • Health Library
  • About UPMC
    • Why UPMC
    • Facts & Stats
    • Supply Chain Management
    • Community Commitment
    • More
      • Financials
      • Support UPMC
      • UPMC Apps
      • UPMC Enterprises
      • UPMC International
  • For Health Care Professionals
    • Physician Information
    • Resources
    • Education & Training
    • Departments
    • Credentialing
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Newsroom
  • UPMC >
  • Our Services >
  • Heart & Vascular >
  • Conditions We Treat >
  • Buergers Disease
Heart & Vascular
About Us
Conditions We Treat
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Adult Congenital Heart Disease
Adventitial Cystic Disease
Aneurysms
Angina
Aortic Coarctation
Aortic Disease
Aortic Dissection
Aortic Root Aneurysm
Aortic Stenosis
Aortoiliac Occlusive Disease
Aortopathy
Arrhythmia
Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy
Arteriovenous Malformation
Ascending Aortic Arch Aneurysm
Atherosclerosis
Atrial Fibrillation
AV Fistula
Bicuspid Aortic Valve
Brachiocephalic Arterial Insufficiency
Bradycardia
Brugada Syndrome
Buergers Disease
Cardiac Amyloidosis
Cardiac Arrest
Cardiomyopathy
Carotid Artery Disease
Carotid Artery Stenosis
Chronic Coronary Total Occlusion
Chronic Mesenteric Ischemia
Chronic Venous Insufficiency
Connective Tissue Disorder
Coronary Artery Disease
Coronary Vasospasm
Deep Vein Thrombosis
Diabetic Arterial Disease
Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Dysphagia Lusoria
Familial Lipid Syndrome
Fibromuscular Dysplasia
Foot Leg Ulcers
Gestational Hypertension
Giant Cell Arteritis
Heart Disease
Heart Failure
Heart Murmurs
Heart Palpitations
Heart Valve Disease
Hypercholesterolemia
Hyperlipidemia
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Infective Endocarditis
Left Ventricular Cardiomyopathy
Long QT Syndrome
Lyme Carditis
Lymphedema
Marfan Syndrome
May Thurner Syndrome
Mitral Valve Disease
Mitral Valve Regurgitation
Mitral Valve Stenosis
Myocarditis
Nutcracker Syndrome
Pediatric Congenital Heart Disease
Pericarditis
Peripartum Cardiomyopathy
Peripheral Aneurysm
Peripheral Artery Disease
Peripheral Venous Disease
Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome
Postpartum Hypertension
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome
Premature Ventricular Contraction
Pulmonary Embolism
Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection
Tachycardia
Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Varicose Spider Veins
Vascular Malformations
Vascular Trauma
Vasculitis
Vasospastic Disorder
Venous Thromboembolism
Venous Ulcer
Visceral Artery Aneurysm
Wolff Parkinson White Syndrome
Our Services
For Patients
For Professionals & Students
Our Locations
Contact Us
Heart & Vascular
About Us
Conditions We Treat
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Adult Congenital Heart Disease
Adventitial Cystic Disease
Aneurysms
Angina
Aortic Coarctation
Aortic Disease
Aortic Dissection
Aortic Root Aneurysm
Aortic Stenosis
Aortoiliac Occlusive Disease
Aortopathy
Arrhythmia
Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy
Arteriovenous Malformation
Ascending Aortic Arch Aneurysm
Atherosclerosis
Atrial Fibrillation
AV Fistula
Bicuspid Aortic Valve
Brachiocephalic Arterial Insufficiency
Bradycardia
Brugada Syndrome
Buergers Disease
Cardiac Amyloidosis
Cardiac Arrest
Cardiomyopathy
Carotid Artery Disease
Carotid Artery Stenosis
Chronic Coronary Total Occlusion
Chronic Mesenteric Ischemia
Chronic Venous Insufficiency
Connective Tissue Disorder
Coronary Artery Disease
Coronary Vasospasm
Deep Vein Thrombosis
Diabetic Arterial Disease
Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Dysphagia Lusoria
Familial Lipid Syndrome
Fibromuscular Dysplasia
Foot Leg Ulcers
Gestational Hypertension
Giant Cell Arteritis
Heart Disease
Heart Failure
Heart Murmurs
Heart Palpitations
Heart Valve Disease
Hypercholesterolemia
Hyperlipidemia
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Infective Endocarditis
Left Ventricular Cardiomyopathy
Long QT Syndrome
Lyme Carditis
Lymphedema
Marfan Syndrome
May Thurner Syndrome
Mitral Valve Disease
Mitral Valve Regurgitation
Mitral Valve Stenosis
Myocarditis
Nutcracker Syndrome
Pediatric Congenital Heart Disease
Pericarditis
Peripartum Cardiomyopathy
Peripheral Aneurysm
Peripheral Artery Disease
Peripheral Venous Disease
Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome
Postpartum Hypertension
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome
Premature Ventricular Contraction
Pulmonary Embolism
Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection
Tachycardia
Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Varicose Spider Veins
Vascular Malformations
Vascular Trauma
Vasculitis
Vasospastic Disorder
Venous Thromboembolism
Venous Ulcer
Visceral Artery Aneurysm
Wolff Parkinson White Syndrome
Our Services
For Patients
For Professionals & Students
Our Locations
Contact Us

Chat Keywords List

  • cancel or exit: Stops your conversation
  • start over: Restarts your current scenario
  • help: Shows what this bot can do
  • terms: Shows terms of use and privacy statement
  • feedback: Give us feedback
Continue
Chat with UPMC
RESTART
MENU
CLOSE

Buerger’s Disease (Thromboangiitis Obliterans)

Buerger's disease — also called thromboangiitis obliterans — is a rare vascular disease associated with smoking and tobacco use. It can cause pain and discoloration in your hands, feet, and legs and lead to serious complications if left untreated.

Looking for Buerger's Disease Care?

Related services:

  • Heart and Vascular

Find a Provider

  • What Is Buerger's disease?
  • What Are the Symptoms of Buerger's disease?
  • How Do You Diagnose Buerger's disease?
  • How Do You Treat Buerger's disease?

What Is Buerger's Disease (Thromboangiitis Obliterans)?

Buerger's disease (thromboangiitis obliterans) is a rare vascular disease.

It causes inflammation and blockages in the small and medium-sized blood vessels in the arms and legs. These changes deprive tissue of the oxygen and nutrients it needs.

What are Buerger's disease risk factors and complications?

Buerger's disease risk factors

Tobacco use greatly increases the risk of Buerger's disease. It is believed that the chemicals in tobacco irritate the lining of your blood vessels and cause them to swell.

Most people who have Buerger's disease are those who use any form of tobacco, including:

  • Cigarettes
  • Cigars
  • Chewing tobacco

Buerger's disease is most common among young and middle-aged men who are heavy smokers. Those who smoke more than a pack and a half a day are most at risk for Buerger's disease.

Complications of Buerger's disease

If left untreated, advanced Buerger's disease can lead to gangrene — or tissue death — of your fingers or toes.

Doctors will often remove dead tissue with either an amputation or wide debridement.

Back to top


What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Buerger's disease?

Buerger's disease symptoms can include:

  • Cramping in the calf with exercise.
  • Pain in your arms, hands, legs, fingers, or toes.
  • Pale, red, or blue hands and feet.
  • Cold hands and feet.
  • Numbness or tingling in your limbs.
  • Skin ulcers or wounds that don’t heal on your fingers and toes.

Back to top


How Do You Diagnose Buerger’s disease?

The symptoms of Buerger’s disease can be like those of other conditions. To diagnose Buerger's disease, your doctor may perform some tests to rule out other health problems.

Buerger’s disease diagnostic tests may include:

  • Physical exam – a complete physical exam that checks your pulse.
  • Ultrasound — uses sound waves to create pictures of the blood flow through your arms and legs.
  • Angiogram — uses an x-ray and contrast material to show blockages in your blood vessels.
  • Computed tomography angiogram (CTA) — uses cross-sectional x-rays and a computer to create detailed 3D images.

Back to top


How Do You Treat Buerger’s disease?

There is no cure for Buerger's disease.

The most effective way to keep the disease from getting worse is to stop smoking and using tobacco products.

You must also avoid exposure to cold temperatures and practice proper hand and foot care.

Other treatments — that may be less effective — can include:

  • Medicines to open (dilate) your blood vessels, or blood thinners to prevent blood clots.
  • Surgery to restore proper blood flow.
  • Amputation of gangrenous fingers or toes.

By UPMC Editorial Staff. Last reviewed on 2024-10-01.

UPMC
200 Lothrop Street Pittsburgh, PA 15213

412-647-8762 800-533-8762

Patients And Visitors
  • Find a Doctor
  • Locations
  • Pay a Bill
  • Patient & Visitor Resources
  • Disabilities Resource Center
  • Services
  • Medical Records
  • No Surprises Act
  • Price Transparency
  • Financial Assistance
  • Classes & Events
  • Health Library
Health Care Professionals
  • Physician Information
  • Resources
  • Education & Training
  • Departments
  • Credentialing
Newsroom
  • Newsroom Home
  • Inside Life Changing Medicine Blog
  • News Releases
About
  • Why UPMC
  • Facts & Stats
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Community Commitment
  • Financials
  • Supporting UPMC
  • HealthBeat Blog
  • UPMC Apps
  • UPMC Enterprises
  • UPMC Health Plan
  • UPMC International
  • Nondiscrimination Policy
Life changing is...
Follow UPMC
  • Contact Us
  • Website/Email Terms of Use
  • Medical Advice Disclaimer
  • Privacy Information
  • Active Privacy Alerts
  • Sitemap
© 2025 UPMC I Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences Supplemental content provided by Healthwise, Incorporated. To learn more, visit healthwise.org
Find Care
Providers
Video Visit
Portal Login