Idiopathic edema

Abstract

This article describes idiopathic edema, alias fluid retention syndrome, cyclical edema, or orthostatic edema. It occurs solely in women in the absence of any currently recognized cause and its symptoms are usually dismissed as premenstrual or "minor." In severe cases, it can be both crippling and limiting. This article describes the proposed pathophysiology and the resulting effects on the fluid and sodium excretion by the kidney. Two types of idiopathic edema are depicted: orthostatic sodium retention and orthostatic water retention. A case study is presented to better illustrate this syndrome.