Cardiac edema

Cardiac edema is a type of body edema caused by cardiac dysfunction and is one of the common manifestations of heart disease. Common diseases that cause cardiac edema include congestive heart failure, valvular heart disease, acute or chronic pericarditis, constrictive pericarditis, restrictive cardiomyopathy, acute or chronic pulmonary vascular disease, and cor pulmonale. Edema generally starts in the dependent parts of the body and gradually develops into generalized edema. Pitting edema of the lower extremities usually appears first, with the ankles being the most prominent.