PERIPHERAL EDEMA

Specifically pedal and holy edema in cardiac patients, is a result of heart failure, typically due to right or combined right and left heart failure, leading to fluid and water retention. Other cardiovascular causes of edema include constrictive pericarditis and cardiomyopathy. Additionally, calcium channel blockers have been known to produce pedal edema. Non-cardiac causes of edema include supplemental venous insufficiency, venous inhibition, nephrotic pattern, cirrhosis, or idiopathic factors.

DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS OF PERIPHERAL EDEMA 

 •cardiac failure, right heart failure, constrictive pericarditis, and cardiomyopathy. 

•Other causes include habitual venous insufficiency (such as varicose veins),

 •hypoalbuminemia

-nephrotic syndrome

-liver cirrhosis

- protein-losing enteropathy

•Drugs

-Retaining Sodium(such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs]

 -Increase capillary permeability, e.g. nifedipine and amlodipine)

•idiopathic factors (more common in women than men).

• Habitual lymphatic inhibition may also contribute to edema.