Massive vulvar edema complicating a diabetic pregnancy

O Deren1, I Bildirici, A Al

  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. oderen@ato.org.tr

A 29-year-old primiparous diabetic woman was admitted to hospital due to poor glucose control at 23 weeks' gestation. During hospitalization, bilateral vulvar edema developed and progressed within days. The only remarkable finding in relation to the edema was hypoalbuminemia and associated proteinuria. Despite repositioning the patient, and correction of hypoalbuminemia, edema persisted. Mechanical drainage was tried as an alternative, and resulted in complete resolution of the edema with no recurrence.

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