Causes of peripheral oedema (cardio)(vasc)

Peripheral oedema can be pitting or non-pitting.

The main cause of non-pitting peripheral oedema is lymphoedema in which sufferers typically have a congenital malformation of the lymphatic vessles in the limb(s) leading to accumulation of lymph in the affected parts of the body. This is non-pitting and is woody hard.

In pitting peripheral oedema, the problem is caused by an increase in hydrostatic pressure inside the blood vessles or a decrease in oncotic pressure or both. Therefore the causes can be:

1. Renal -- renal failure, nephrotic syndrome etc leading to a decrease in oncotic pressure. (of course severe liver failure would lead to a decrease in protein content in the plasma too) Swelling tends ot be symmetrical except in situations like superimposed varicosity.
2. Cardial
3. Venous

CardialMainly cardiac failure. Also hypertension.
Cardiomyopathy, valvular disease, pericardial disease.

Oedema tends to be symmetrical.

VenousObstruction due to (moving up the venous tree):

1. DVT - asymmetrical swelling unless bilateral DVT
   
2. Pelvic mass - asymmetrical swelling possible
   
3. IVC obstruction e.g. thrombus
4. Right atrium - fibrillation/flutter, tricuspid regurg
   
5. Tricuspid stenosis
6. Cardiomyopathy
7. Pulmonary valve disease
8. Pulmonary tree disease e.g. PE, Pulm hypertension
9. Left atrial flutter/fibrillation
10. Mitral valva disease
11. LV dysfunction
12. Aortic valve disease
13. Pericardial disease - constriction/tamponade

(*4 to 13 not strictly speaking venous problems, but they show a logical pattern of thinking when considering causes to a problem. In this case, the anatomical model is used.)