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Cachectic edema.

Cachectic edema is one of the types of edema that occurs when cachexia and insufficient food intake into the body. The pathogenesis of cachectic edema is still not entirely clear, but it is believed that during fasting during the period of tissue decay, an increase in the volume of extracellular fluid occurs (first due to the breakdown of carbohydrates and fats, then due to the breakdown of tissue protein). Fluid builds up in the lower leg area and causes tissue swelling.

The causes of cachectic edema are associated not only with cases of forced or deliberate starvation, a decrease in the calorie content of food, but also with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, as a result of which the processes of assimilation by the body of substances supplied with food are disrupted. A particularly important condition for the development of cachectic edema is vitamin deficiency or hypovitaminosis of B vitamins, which are one of the main regulators of metabolism and affect the functions of digestion.

There are a number of cases when cachectic edema accompanies diseases not associated with fasting or group B vitamin deficiency. These are uterine cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, enterocolitis and intestinal intoxication, diabetes mellitus, alcoholism.

Signs of cachectic edema:

Localization mainly in the area of the lower leg, feet, face or places with loose tissue,
Symmetry of the location of edema,
Mobility (displaces with a change in body position) and a pasty consistency of edema (when pressing on the swollen tissues, dents remain),
May be accompanied by diarrhea,
Sometimes they cause a feeling of chilliness,
.Combined with a lack of appetite.

With cachectic edema, the work of the heart and kidneys is disrupted, degenerative changes in the structure of smooth muscles occur.

Treatment of cachectic edema is associated with the improvement of digestive processes (in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract), an improvement in the diet (especially with the introduction of foods rich in B vitamins into the diet) and restriction of salt intake.