Human pathology

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Edema

Definition: Edema is the increase of fluid in the interstitial tissue spaces.

Types

- noninflammatory edema
- inflammatory edema

Etiology

- Increased Hydrostatic Pressure

  • Impaired venous return
  • Congestive heart failure
  • Constrictive pericarditis
  • Ascites (liver cirrhosis)
  • Venous obstruction or compression
  • Thrombosis
  • External pressure (e.g., mass)
  • Lower extremity inactivity with prolonged dependency
  • Arteriolar dilation
  • Heat
  • Neurohumoral dysregulation

- reduced plasma osmotic pressure (oncotic pressure) (hypoproteinemia)

- lymphatic Obstruction

  • inflammatory
  • neoplastic
  • postsurgical
  • postirradiation
  • parasitic

- sodium Retention

  • Excessive salt intake with renal insufficiency
  • Increased tubular reabsorption of sodium
  • Renal hypoperfusion
  • Increased renin-angiotensin-aldosterone secretion

- Inflammation (inflammatory edema)

- angiogenesis

See also

- anasarca: the severe and generalized edema with profound subcutaneous tissue swelling.