What is Anasarca –

What is Anasarca –

Anasarca, or extreme generalized edema, is a medical condition characterized by widespread swelling of the skin due to effusion of fluid into the extracellular space. It is usually caused by liver failure (cirrhosis of the liver), renal failure/disease, 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.

Ayurvedic View on Anasarca -

In case of anasarca there is not much to say except that it is a gross kaphaja vikar which arises primarily due to an increased parthivo jalaja distribution in the whole body. This may be due to a drastic change in the prakruti of the individual largely.

                Its primary cause may be associated with capillary level anomalies.