common causes of clubbing

Last reviewed 10/2023

Common causes of finger clubbing can be divided up according to the system with primary pathology:

  • cardiovascular causes:
    • cyanotic congenital heart disease
    • infective endocarditis

  • respiratory causes:
    • lung carcinoma - usually squamous cell carcinoma
    • pulmonary fibrosis, especially fibrosing alveolitis
    • cystic fibrosis
    • chronic pulmonary suppuration:
      • bronchiectasis
      • empyema
      • lung abscess

The clubbing seen with bronchogenic carcinoma is often part of a hypertrophic osteoarthropathy.