EDEMA
[Link] Nazeer
Rashid Latif College of Pharmacy
EDEMA
• Edema is an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the interstitium,
located beneath the skin and in the cavities of the body.
• Edema is a normal response of the body to inflammation or injury. For
example, a twisted ankle, a bee sting, or a skin infection will all result
in edema in the involved area.
• In some cases, such as in an infection, this may be beneficial.
• Increased fluid from the blood vessels allows more infection-fighting
white blood cells to enter the affected area.
CAUSES
• Five factors can contribute to the formation of edema:
• 1. Increased hydrostatic pressure;
• 2. Reduced plasma oncotic pressure
• 3. Increased blood vessel wall permeability e.g. INFLAMMATION;
• 4. Obstruction of fluid clearance in the lymphatic system;
• 5. Changes in the water retaining properties of the tissues
themselves. Raised hydrostatic pressure often reflects retention of
water and sodium by the kidney
CLASSIFICATION
• Edema can be classified as
• GENERALISED
• LOCALISED.
• • GENERALIZED EDEMA is a condition when you notice swelling, puffiness,
and water retention in various body parts,
• including your abdomen,
• arms,
• legs,
• face,
• feet.
• • Symptoms include
• bloating,
• tightening of skin,
• skin that holds an imprint or looks pitted
• • Conditions leading to generalised edema:
• 1. Congestive Heart Failure
• 2. Nephrotic syndrome
• 3. Cirrhosis of Liver
• 4. Systemic Infection etc.
• LOCALISED EDEMA can be defined as the type of edema confined to a
particular part/organ of the body.
• • Various conditions that lead to localised edema are:
• 1. Trauma
• 2. Infection
• 3. Lymphatic Obstruction like Filariasis
• 4. Venous Obstruction (e.g.- thrombosis)
MAJOR TYPES of EDEMA
• There are different types of edema.
• Some of them are specific to certain parts of the body, while others
may be more generalized. Edema can be majorly classified into
following types:
• a) PERIPHERAL EDEMA
• b) PULMONARY EDEMA
• c) CEREBRAL EDEMA
• PERIPHERAL EDEMA
• Peripheral edema mainly occurs in the legs, feet, and ankles. This is
the most common type of edema and it causes swelling in the lower
extremities.
• This type of edema may be caused by increasing age, pregnancy,
hypertension, congestive heart failure, kidney problems or other
health conditions.
• You also may experience peripheral edema if you have been sitting or
standing for extended hours.
• Some medications may also cause peripheral edema:
• 1. NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen)
• 2. Corticosteroids (prednisone, methylprednisolone)
• PULMONARY EDEMA
• Pulmonary edema is the accumulation of fluids in the lungs due to
the blockage of the pulmonary veins. As blood pressure rises in the
blood vessels of the lungs, fluids rush in to fill the lungs.
• The pleural cavity can also be filled with fluid. In such cases, the
pulmonary edema is said to also present with pleural effusion.
• Pulmonary edema is usually caused by the malfunctioning of the left
ventricle of the heart
• Other causes can be:
• a) Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.
• b) Hypersensitivity Reaction (Pink Frothy Sputum is the classical
symptom of this edema.)
• CEREBRAL EDEMA
• In cerebral edema, fluids accumulates in the intracellular and extracellular
spaces of the brain. It can be caused by metabolic abnormalities due to an
underlying disease or as a response to oxygen deprivation at high altitudes.
• Cerebral edema is a very serious form of edema. It can lead to loss of
consciousness and brain damage.
• Cerebral edema can be further divided into 3 subtypes of edema. These
are :
• 1. Vasogenic
• 2. Cytotoxic
• 3. Interstitial cerebral edema.