Tissue Edema and Principles of Transcapillary Fluid Echange

Richard E. Klabunde, Ph.D.

Edema refers to the swelling of tissues that result from excessive accumulation of fluid within the tissue. Edema can be highly localized, for example, a small region of the skin subjected to a bee sting. Edema, however, can also comprise an entire limb, specific organs such as the lungs (e.g., pulmonary edema) or the whole body.

General principles

To understand how edema occurs, it is first necessary to explain the concept of tissue compartments. There are two primary fluid compartments in the body between which fluid is exchanged - the intravascular and extravascular compartments. The intravascular compartment contains fluid (i.e., blood) within the cardiac chambers and vascular system of the body. The extravascular system is everything outside of the intravascular compartment. Fluid and electrolytes readily move between these two compartments. The extravascular compartment is made up of many subcompartments such as the cellular, interstitial, and lymphatic subcompartments, and a specialized system containing cerebrospinal fluid.

The movement of fluid and accompanying solutes between compartments (mostly water, electrolytes, and smaller molecular weight solutes) is governed by physical factors such as hydrostatic and oncotic forces. These forces are normally balanced in such a manner the fluid volume remains relatively constant between the compartments. If the physical forces or barriers to fluid movement are altered, the volume of fluid may increase in one compartment and decrease in another. In some cases, total fluid volume increases in the body so that both intravascular and extravascular compartments increase in volume. This can occur, for example, when the kidneys fail to excrete sufficient amounts of sodium and water. When the fluid volume within the interstitial compartment increases, this compartment will increase in size leading to tissue swelling (i.e., edema). When excess fluid accumulates within the peritoneal space, this is termed "ascites." Pulmonary congestion, which can occur in heart failure as the left atrial pressure increases and blood backs up in the pulmonary circuit, causes pulmonary edema.

A model that helps us to understand what causes edema is shown to the right. In most capillary systems of the body, there is a net filtration of fluid from the intravascular to the extravascular compartment. In other words, capillary fluid filtration exceeds reabsorption. This would cause fluid to accumulate within the interstitium if it were not for the lymphatic system that removes excess fluid from the interstitium and returns it back to the intravascular compartment. Circumstances, however, can arise where net capillary filtration exceeds the capacity of the lymphatics to carry away the fluid (i.e., net filtration > lymph flow). When this occurs, the interstitium will swell with fluid, thereby become edematous.

Factors Precipitating Edema

Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure (as occurs when venous pressures become elevated by gravitational forces, in heart failure or with venous obstruction)

Decreased plasma oncotic pressure (as occurs with hypoproteinemia)

Increased capillary permeability caused by proinflammatory mediators (e.g., histamine, bradykinin) or by damage to the structural integrity of capillaries so that they become more "leaky" (as occurs in tissue trauma, burns, and severe inflammation)

Lymphatic obstruction (as occurs in filariasis)

Prevention and Treatment of Edema

The treatment for edema involves altering one or more of the physical factors that regulate fluid movement. For example, in edema (pulmonary or systemic) secondary to heart failure, diuretics are given to reduce blood volume and venous pressure. If a patient suffers from ankle edema, that person will be instructed to keep their feet elevated whenever possible (to diminish the effects of gravity on capillary pressure), use tight fitting elastic hose (to increase tissue hydrostatic pressure), and possibly be prescribed a diuretic drug to enhance fluid removal by the kidneys.

Revised 09/14/2005

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