Selected Differential Diagnosis of Bilateral Lower Extremity Edema

Condition Characteristics

Edema caused by portal congestion or hypoalbuminemia, depending on

Liver failure
severity of hepatic damage

Edema caused by damage to, or maldevelopment of, the peripheral

Lymphedema
lymphatic system

Soft-tissue edema in patients with severe and advanced hypothyroidism;

Myxedema typically associated with other hypothyroid manifestations, such as
bradycardia, constipation, and weight gain

Edema caused by hypoproteinemia or hypoalbuminemia secondary to

Nephrotic syndrome
kidney disease

Decreased cardiac ejection fraction leads to pulmonary, hepatic, and

Systolic heart failure
peripheral venous congestion

Thrombosis (portal vein,

extremity, inferior vena Edema caused by thrombotic obstruction of venous drainage
cava)

Edema caused by failure of venous return secondary to deep venous

Venous insufficiency
damage and/or incompetence