Pulmonary Edema

Pulmonary edema is suggested by the sudden onset of dyspnea, orthopnea and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea. Common cardiac etiologies of acute pulmonary edema include significant systemic arterial hypertension, coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, cardiomyopathy and myocarditis.

In the absence of a history of hypertension and risk factors for coronary artery disease, these most common causes of pulmonary edema are unlikely in our patient. The history of a murmur suggests the possibility of valvular heart disease. The recent fever and weakness suggest the possibilities of infective endocarditis and myocarditis.