Low albumin can lead to edema associated with which condition?

• A. Hypovolemia
• B. Anemia
• C. Hypercalcemia
• D. Fluid overload

Answer: (D)

Low albumin lowers plasma oncotic pressure, so fluid is more likely to leave the vessels and accumulate in the interstitial spaces. This fluid shift causes edema, which in dialysis patients often reflects a state of fluid overload — excess total body water contributing to swelling. The other conditions don’t cause edema through this same mechanism: hypovolemia would suggest low circulating volume, not tissue swelling; anemia, hypercalcemia, and the like don’t directly drive interstitial fluid accumulation.