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. 2021 Jun 3;38(2):189–193. doi: 10.1055/s-0041-1727162

Table 1. Common causes of chronic lower extremity swelling.

Unilateral Bilateral
Primary venous reflux, superficial or deep Right-side heart, renal or hepatic failure
Postthrombotic syndrome (deep vein obstruction and reflux) Medications
Lymphedema, primary and secondary Central venous obstruction (postthrombotic, congenital or mass)
Nonthrombotic iliac vein obstruction (including mass compressing an iliac vein) Hypoalbuminemia or proteinemia
Calf muscle pump impairment (musculoskeletal or neurological) Lymphedema
Vascular malformations Obesity
Overgrowth syndromes Medications
Complex regional pain syndrome (reflux sympathetic dystrophy) Lipedema
Mass, soft tissue, or bone Immobility