Peripheral oedema

Laboratory tests

• NT-proBNP
• Serum albumin
• Total serum protein
• PT ± factor V
• AST
• ALT
• GGT
• ALP
• Serum creatinine with eGFR
• FBC (if the cause remains unexplained)if needednon-French guidelineBilateral oedema whose cause remains unexplained after clinical examination: short additional list to rule out a systemic cause ^[2].
• Serum electrolytes (if the cause remains unexplained)if needednon-French guidelineBilateral oedema whose cause remains unexplained after clinical examination: short additional list to rule out a systemic cause ^[2].
• TSH (if the cause remains unexplained)if needednon-French guidelineBilateral oedema whose cause remains unexplained after clinical examination: short additional list to rule out a systemic cause ^[2]. Myxoedema is among the causes of chronic bilateral oedema ^[2].
• Fasting plasma glucose (if the cause remains unexplained)if needednon-French guidelineUnexplained bilateral oedema: the American review already cited includes plasma glucose in its short list ^[2], and the German and Australian assessments of suspected heart failure include it too ^[3,4]. The French nephrology textbook does not cite it ^[5].

On urine tests

• Urine protein:creatinine ratio (spot sample)
• Urine sediment