Anasarca

Anasarca is a severe and generalized form of edema with widespread subcutaneous tissue swelling. Anasarca is a severe and generalized form of edema with widespread subcutaneous tissue swelling. It is usually caused by liver failure (cirrhosis of the liver), renal failure, right-sided heart failure, as well as severe malnutrition/protein deficiency. The increase in salt and water retention caused by low cardiac output can also result in anasarca as a long term maladaptive response. It can also be created from the administration of exogenous intravenous fluid. Certain plant-derived anticancer chemotherapeutic agents, such as docetaxel, cause anasarca through a poorly understood capillary leak syndrome. In Hb Barts, the high oxygen affinity results in poor oxygen delivery to peripheral tissues, resulting in anasarca.