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Types of edema are pitting edema and non-pitting edema. The former is present if pressing of the affected body part creates a small pit that disappears within a few seconds. Non-pitting edema is not compressible.

Causes of edema are:

• high hydrostatic pressure of the veins, leading to poor resorption of fluid
  • venous obstruction
  • congestive heart failure
  • varicose veins
• low oncotic pressure
  • cirrhosis
  • malnutrition
  • nephrotic syndrome (renal protein loss)
• inflammation (active secretion of fluid into the interstitial space):
  • allergic conditions (e.g. angioneurotic edema)
  • any other form of inflammation (tumor - or swelling - is one of the main characteristics of inflammation)

See also

• anasarca.