Definition

1. Noun:
   • A medical condition characterized by severe and generalized swelling of the body due to the accumulation of fluid in the subcutaneous tissues and connective tissue spaces. It is a form of edema that is widespread, affecting multiple areas of the body simultaneously, rather than being localized to one limb or area.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The patient's anasarca was a sign of severe heart failure.
  • The doctor diagnosed the widespread swelling as anasarca, likely caused by kidney disease.
  • Managing anasarca often requires addressing the underlying systemic condition.

Advanced Usage

• Clinical Context: The term is used almost exclusively in medical and clinical settings to describe a specific, severe presentation of edema. It is not used in everyday conversation.
  • The presence of anasarca complicated the patient's treatment plan.

Variants and Related Words

• Edema (n): The general medical term for swelling caused by excess fluid trapped in the body's tissues. Anasarca is a severe, generalized type of edema.
• Dropsy (n): An older, non-specific term for edema or swelling, which is less commonly used in modern medicine.

Synonyms

• Generalized edema: A descriptive synonym often used interchangeably in medical contexts.
• Massive edema: Emphasizes the severity of the fluid accumulation.

Related Phrases

• Pitting edema: A type of edema where pressure leaves a temporary indentation (pit) in the skin. Anasarca often presents as pitting edema.
  • The anasarca was evident from the profound pitting edema observed in the patient's legs and abdomen.

Notes on Meaning

• Medical Specificity: "Anasarca" refers specifically to the or of having widespread, severe edema. It is the name of the condition itself, not the process of swelling.
• Underlying Cause: The word describes the symptom (massive swelling), but it is always caused by an underlying systemic disease, such as congestive heart failure, kidney failure (nephrotic syndrome), or liver cirrhosis.

Noun

1. generalized edema with accumulation of serum in subcutaneous connective tissue