[Idiopathic edema in the female].

Idiopathic oedema in women is due to a disturbance in capillary permeability with increased protein porosity. This leads to generalized pre- or mild oedema which, although it is frequently not recognizable clinically, gives rise to marked sensations of tension and heaviness with impaired physical performance. Diagnosis must exclude all other possible forms of oedema. However, not only oedema that presents in generalized forms must be considered. Optimum therapy consists of manual Vodder-Asdonk lymphatic drainage in conjunction with compression therapy. This results in a marked improvement. At present there is no known safe pharmaceutical treatment, diuretics are not indicated.