A patient exhibits swelling of the ankles and a bloated abdomen and has a history of malnutrition. The bloated abdomen is probably caused by?: (A) Increased intestinal gas, (B) Slow, chronic abdominal hemorrhage, (C) Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure, (D) Decreased capillary colloid osmotic pressure
Answer is D. In long-standing protein-energy malnutrition, protein catabolism takes place. Blood albumin level decreases. Which leads to decreased colloidal osmotic pressure in the capillaries.This causes increased capillary permeability and edema results.(Ref: Ganong&;s Review of medical physiology, 24th edition)