Table 14-2.
Types of Edema in the Central Nervous System
| Type of Edema | Cause | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Cytotoxic | Altered cellular metabolism (often due to ischemia) | Intracellular accumulation of fluid (neurons, glial cells, endothelial cells) |
| Vasogenic | Vascular injury with breakdown of the blood-brain barrier | Extracellular accumulation of fluid (cerebrocortical white matter) |
| Hydrostatic (interstitial) | Elevated ventricular hydrostatic pressure (hydrocephalus) | Extracellular accumulation of fluid (periventricular white matter) |
| Hypo-osmotic | Osmotic imbalances (blood plasma versus extracellular and intracellular microenvironments of the CNS) | Extracellular and intracellular accumulation of fluid (cerebrocortical gray and white matter) |
CNS, Central nervous system.