What is the Cause of Abdominal Edema?

What Causes Abdominal Edema?

Abdominal edema can have various causes, ranging in severity from 'troubling' to 'generally fatal'. Finding the true cause means ruling out or confirming each possibility – in other words, diagnosis.

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Diagnosis is usually a complex process due to the sheer number of possible causes and related symptoms. In order to diagnose abdominal edema, we could:

Research the topic
Find a doctor with the time
Use a diagnostic computer system.

The process is the same, whichever method is used.

Step 1: List all Possible Causes

We begin by identifying the disease conditions which have "abdominal edema" as a symptom. Here are eight of many possibilities (more below):

PMS
Low Progesterone
Congestive Heart Failure
Hypothyroidism
Anorexia/Starvation Tendency
Nephrotic Syndrome
Edema
Protein Deficiency

Step 2: Build a Symptom Checklist

We then identify all possible symptoms and risk factors of each possible cause, and check the ones that apply:

regular infections

edema of the feet

low energy/stamina

candidiasis

waking up with choking sensation

being very easily irritated

having non-scalp scaly/flaky skin

reduced progesterone level

very angry/hostile disposition

sugar/sweet craving

biliopancreatic diversion

current birth control pill use

... and more than 100 others

Step 3: Rule Out or Confirm each Possible Cause

A differential diagnosis of your symptoms and risk factors finds the likely cause of abdominal edema:

Cause	Probability	Status
Protein Deficiency	96%	Confirm
Low Progesterone	13%	Unlikely
Nephrotic Syndrome	13%	Unlikely
Hypothyroidism	4%	Ruled out
Edema	4%	Ruled out
Congestive Heart Failure	1%	Ruled out
PMS	0%	Ruled out
Anorexia/Starvation Tendency	0%	Ruled out

* This is a simple example to illustrate the process

Arriving at a Correct Diagnosis

The Analyst™ is our online diagnosis tool that learns all about you through a straightforward process of multi-level questioning, providing diagnosis at the end.

If you indicate edema, The Analyst™ will ask further questions including this one:

Do you have edema of the abdomen?

Possible responses:

→ Don't know
→ No
→ Slightly
→ Very much

Based on your response to this question, which may indicate either not having edema of the abdomen or edema of the abdomen, The Analyst™ will consider possibilities such as:

Cirrhosis of the Liver

When the liver loses its ability to make the protein albumin, water accumulates in the legs and abdomen.

Congestive Heart Failure

The weakened heart muscles may not be able to supply enough blood to the kidneys, which then begin to lose their normal ability to excrete salt (sodium) and water. This diminished kidney function can cause the body to retain more fluid.

Alcohol-related Problems

Excessive alcohol intake can cause edema.

Anorexia / Starvation Tendency

Semi-starvation can cause edema. People with eating disorders may interpret the puffiness of edema or any changes on the scale as weight gain or getting "fat" and may panic and purge or take laxatives even more.

Atrophic Gastritis

Edema may be due to low levels of circulating proteins from poor protein digestion.

Eclampsia / Preeclampsia

Excess Salt Consumption

Salt can increase the amount of fluid that you retain in your body.

Excess Water Consumption

Hormone Imbalance

Hormones regulate the amount of interstitial fluid surrounding our body's cells. A hormone imbalance can result in too much interstitial fluid, and thus edema.

Hypothyroidism

Kidney Disease

Liver Detoxification / Support Requirement

Premenstrual Syndrome PMS H (Headache)

Progesterone Low or Estrogen Dominance

Progesterone has been used in the treatment of idiopathic edema under the premise that some women with idiopathic edema either do not ovulate or have a luteal phase deficiency.

Ovarian function was investigated in 30 women with postural idiopathic edema by measuring plasma estradiol and progesterone levels between the 21st and 23rd days of the menstrual cycle. Plasma progesterone concentrations were found to be lower than 5ng/ml in 53% of the cases and lower than 10ng/ml in 83%. The ovarian dysfunction most frequently observed was inadequate corpus luteum, i.e. progesterone deficiency with normal plasma estradiol levels. In virtually all patients the initial disorder in capillary permeability, as evaluated by Landis' test, was fully corrected by progesterone administered orally. However, clinical improvement was less marked with treatments of short duration (2-3 consecutive cycles). In view of the complex cause of the disease, combined treatments in which progesterone might well play the major role are usually required. [Presse Med 1983 Dec 10;12(45): pp.2859-62 (translated)]

Protein Deficiency

When protein (especially albumin) levels in your blood go too low, the colloidal osmotic pressure will decrease and allow fluid to escape from blood vessels into your tissues, resulting in edema or swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, knees and/or belly.

Nephrotic Syndrome

Premenstrual Syndrome

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