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Heart and Vascular Conditions We Treat

The cardiovascular experts at UPMC treat a full range of heart and vascular diseases and disorders. View our comprehensive list of conditions treated at the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute.

A     B     C     D     E     F     G     H     I     J     K     L     M     N     O     P     Q     R     S     T     U     V     W     X     Y     Z

A

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

An abdominal aortic aneurysm occurs when a main artery (aorta) bulges.

Adventitial Cystic Disease

Adventitial cystic disease is a cyst that forms & blocks blood flow.

Aneurysms

An aneurysm occurs when the wall of your artery becomes weak and balloons out.

Angina

Angina is chest pain caused by an area of your heart not receiving enough blood.

Aortic Coarctation

Aortic coarctation is a congenital heart condition and it occurs because a narrowing in the aorta restricts blood flow to the rest of the body.

Aortic Disease

Aortic disease includes conditions that affect your aorta, the largest artery in your body.

Aortic Dissection

Aorta dissection is a tear in the inner layer of a weakened part of your aorta.

Aortic Root Aneurysm

An aortic root aneurysm is a bulge in the wall of a specific part of the aorta.

aortic Stenosis

Aortic stenosis is a narrowing of the aortic valve opening.

Aortoiliac Occlusive Disease

Aortoiliac occlusive disease affects the iliac arteries in the pelvis and legs.

Aortopathy

Aortopathy is a disorder of the aorta, the largest artery in the body.

Arrhythmia

An arrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat.

Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy

ARVC is an inherited disease that causes the heart to beat irregularly.

Arteriovenous Malformation

AVM is the tangle of blood vessels connecting arteries and veins in the brain.

Ascending and Aortic Arch Aneurysm

An ascending aortic aneurysm is a bulge in the portion of the aorta closest to the heart.

Atherosclerosis (Arteriosclerosis)

Atherosclerosis causes a hardening of the arteries due to plaque build-up.

Arteriovenous (AV) Fistula

In an AV fistula, blood bypasses capillaries and flows directly from an artery to a vein.

Atrial Fibrillation (AFib)

AFib is an irregular & often rapid heart rhythm that can lead to blood clots.

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B

Bicuspid Aortic Valve

A bicuspid aortic valve is an aortic valve with two cusps instead of three.

Bradycardia

Bradycardia is a heart rate that's slow, beating fewer than 60 beats per minute.

Brachiocephalic Arterial Insufficiency

Brachiocephalic arterial insufficiency is a condition in which the brachiocephalic artery is narrowed or blocked. This prevents proper blood flow to the upper right quadrant of the body.

Brugada Syndrome

Brugada syndrome is a genetic disorder that can cause an irregular heartbeat.

Buergers Disease (Thromboangiitis Obliterans)

Buerger's disease inflames and blocks blood vessels in your arms and legs.

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C

Cardiac Amyloidosis (CA or Stiff Heart Syndrome)

Cardiac amyloidosis occurs when plaque builds up in heart muscle.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a condition in which the heart suddenly stops beating.

Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy is a disease that makes it harder for the heart to pump blood.

Carotid Artery Disease

This occurs when your carotid arteries narrow or become blocked due to a buildup of plaque.

Carotid Artery Stenosis

Carotid artery stenosis is a narrowing of the large arteries on either side of the neck.

Chronic Coronary Total Occlusion

Chronic coronary total occlusion is a block in the arteries lasting more than three months.

Chronic Mesenteric (Intestinal) Ischemia

Chronic mesenteric ischemia is a condition in which plaque builds up in major arteries.

Chronic Venous Insufficiency

Chronic venous insufficiency occurs when leg veins cannot pump blood back to the heart.

Congenital Heart Conditions

Birth defects of the heart are known as congenital heart conditions/disease.

Connective Tissue Disorder

Connective tissue disorders are a weakening of the blood vessel walls & tissues.

Coronary Artery Disease (Heart Attack)

Coronary Artery Disease is damage or disease in the heart's major blood vessels.

Coronary Vasospasm

Coronary vasospasm is when your heart's arteries constrict, symptoms mimic a heart attack.

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D

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot that forms in the veins of the legs.

Diabetic Arterial and Vascular Disease

Diabetic arterial disease can cause nerve damage and poor circulation.

Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)

DCM occurs when the heart chambers enlarge and lose their ability to contract.

Dysphagia Lusoria

Dysphagia lusoria is a rare congenital condition characterized by difficulty swallowing due to an artery compressing the esophagus. 

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F

Familial Lipid Syndrome

Familial lipid syndrome runs in families and causes high levels of cholesterol.

Fibromuscular Dysplasia

Fibromuscular dysplasia involves abnormal cell growth in the walls of arteries.

Foot and Leg Ulcers

Foot and leg ulcers occur when the veins in your legs don't push blood back to your heart.

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G

Gestational Hypertension

Gestational hypertension is high blood pressure that forms during your pregnancy.

Giant Cell Arteritis

Giant cell arteritis is a type of inflammation in the blood vessels.

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H

Heart Disease

Heart disease is a broad term that refers to different heart conditions.

Heart Failure

Heart failure can occur if the heart cannot pump or fill blood adequately.

Heart Murmurs

A heart murmur is an abnormal sound caused by blood moving in or around your heart during your heartbeat cycle.

Heart Palpitations

A heart palpitation is a feeling of fluttering or pounding in your chest.

Heart Valve Disease

Heart valve disease occurs when one or more of your heart valves does not open or close.

High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)

High blood pressure (hypertension) is blood pressure that is higher than normal.

Hypercholesterolemia

Hypercholesterolemia is a word for high levels of cholesterol in the blood.

Hyperlipidemia (High Cholesterol)

Hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol) means your blood has too many lipids (fats) in it.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)

HCM is a disease in which the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick.

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I

Infective Endocarditis

Infective endocarditis is a potentially fatal inflammation of your heart valves' lining.

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L

Left Ventricular Non-compaction Cardiomyopathy

In this type of cardiomyopathy, the heart's main pumping chamber becomes enlarged.

Long QT Syndrome (LQTS)

LQTS is a heart rhythm condition that can potentially cause fast, chaotic heartbeats.

Lyme Carditis

Lyme carditis is a bacterial infection of the heart caused by Lyme disease.

Lymphedema

Lymphedema is a build-up of lymph fluid in the fatty tissues, usually in the arms or legs.

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M

Marfan Syndrome

Marfan syndrome is a disorder that affects the connective tissue in many parts of the body.

May-Thurner Syndrome

May-Thurner syndrome is a rare vascular condition that affects a vein in your pelvis.

Mitral Valve Disease

Mitral valve disease occurs when your mitral valve stops opening and closing properly.

Mitral Valve Regurgitation

Mitral valve regurgitation is the leakage of blood from an improperly closed mitral valve.

Mitral Valve Stenosis

Mitral valve stenosis is a narrowing of the heart's mitral valve, constricting blood flow.

Myocarditis

Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle, caused by a virus or autoimmune disease.

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N

Nutcracker Syndrome

Nutcracker syndrome is a rare vein compression disorder.

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P

Pediatric Congenital Heart Disease

Congenital heart abnormalities are present at birth and vary in severity.

Pericarditis

Pericarditis is a viral infection in the pericardium, the sac surrounding your heart.

Peripartum Cardiomyopathy

A rare type of heart failure that occurs in pregnant women and recent mothers.

Peripheral Arterial Aneurysm

A peripheral aneurysm is an enlargement/weakened area in an artery other than your aorta.

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)

PAD is the narrowing of vessels that carry blood from the heart to the legs.

Peripheral Venous Disease

PVD is a slow, progressive circulation disorder involving blood vessels outside the heart or in the lymph vessels.

Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome (PAES)

PAES is a rare vein condition in the leg.

Postpartum Hypertension

Pregnancy-induced hypertension is defined as high blood pressure after delivery.

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)

POTS is a disorder in which most of your blood stays in your lower body when you stand up.

Pregnancy-induced Hypertension (Postpartum Hypertension)

These conditions cause high blood pressure during pregnancy or in newly postpartum mothers (up to 6 weeks after delivery).

Premature Ventricular Contraction

Premature ventricular contraction happens when a heartbeat occurs earlier than it should.

Pulmonary (Lung) Embolism

Pulmonary embolism occurs when blood clots block one or more of your lungs' arteries.

Pulmonary Hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension is high blood pressure that affects the arteries in the lungs.

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S

Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD)

Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD) is a tear in an artery wall in your heart.

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T

Tachycardia

Tachycardia is an abnormally fast heartbeat, more than 100 times per minute at rest.

Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm

A thoracic aneurysm is a weakened area in the upper part of the body's main blood vessel

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS)

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome occurs when certain blood vessels or nerves are compressed.

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V

Varicose and Spider Veins

Varicose veins are enlarged, twisted veins - commonly in legs.

Vascular Malformation

Vascular malformations are abnormal connections between blood or lymph vessels.

Vascular Trauma

Vascular trauma means that a blood vessel has sustained some kind of injury.

Vasculitis

Vasculitis refers to a group of conditions that cause inflammation in the blood vessels.

Vasospastic Disorder

Vasospastic disorders are spasms in the arteries that cause them to reduce blood flow.

Venous Thromboembolism

A venous thromboembolism (VTE) occurs when a blood clot forms in a vein.

Venous Ulcers

Venous ulcers are open wounds occurring around the ankle or lower leg.

Visceral Artery Aneurysm

A visceral artery aneurysm is a bulge in an artery that carries blood to your organs.

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W

Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome

WPW is a rare disease that causes a rapid heartbeat.