Anasarca

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Anasarca, also known as "extreme generalized edema" is a medical condition characterised by widespread swelling of the skin due to effusion of fluid into the extracellular space.

It is usually caused by either congestive cardiac failure, liver failure (cirrhosis of the liver) or renal failure/disease and severe malnutrition/protein deficiency.

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.

This condition is also called leucophlegmatia.

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