Generalized Edema Below the Diaphragm
Aka: Generalized Edema Below the Diaphragm, Bilateral Leg Edema, Leg Edema, Leg Swelling
II. Causes: Bilateral Lower Extremity Edema – Cardiovascular
- Decreased Cardiac Output
- Congestive Heart Failure
- Left Heart Failure results in pulmonary edema
- Right Heart Failure results in Generalized Edema
- Constrictive Pericarditis
- Pericarditis with effusion
- Congestive Heart Failure
- Venous Obstruction
- Inferior vein obstruction
- Venous obstruction due to intraluminal metastasis
- Thrombophlebitis
- Decreased venous tone
- Seen in sedentary patients
III. Causes: Bilateral Lower Extremity Edema – Non-cardiovascular
- Gastrointestinal
- Hepatic Cirrhosis or liver failure
- Portal Vein obstruction
- Protein-losing Enteropathy
- Renal
- Malnutrition or Hypoalbuminemia
- Carbohydrate Loading or cyclic carbohydrate binging
- Patients who fast during week and eat on weekends
- Frequent travelers with altered eating habits
- Anorexia Nervosa
- Bulimia Nervosa
- Miscellaneous causes
- Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (after 20 weeks gestation)
- Tight clothing (e.g. garter belt)
- Medication Causes of Edema
- Menstruation or pregnancy
- Systemic Vasculitis
- Idiopathic Edema
- Allergic Reaction (e.g. Angioedema)
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea
- Mechanisms include Pulmonary Hypertension
- Thyroid Disease
- Hypothyroidism: Generalized Myxedema
- Hyperthyroidism: Pretibial Myxedema (in Grave’s Disease)