Smokers Prone to Buerger’s Disease
August 13th, 2009 | 
What is Buerger’s Disease?
Also known as Thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO) is a rare disorder characterized by inflammation of the small and medium arteries and veins. It affects about 8-11 persons per 100,000 in North America. The inflammation in TAO frequently leads to blockages of arteries of the lower segments of the arms and legs, and may cause claudication or rest pain and non-healing sores or ulcers, a condition known as Critical Limb Ischemia (CLI).
What Causes Buerger’s Disease?
The association of Buerger’s Disease with tobacco use, particularly cigarette smoking, cannot be overemphasized. Most patients with Buerger’s are heavy smokers, but some cases occur in patients who smoke “moderately”; others have been reported in users of smokeless tobacco. It has been postulated that Buerger’s Disease is an “autoimmune” reaction (one in which the body’s immune system attacks the body’s own tissues) triggered by some constituent of tobacco.
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