Exercise-induced oedema due to hormone-containing intrauterine device
Franssen, L.E.; Bos, W.-J. W.
Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde 156(45): A4978
2012
ISSN/ISBN: 1876-8784 PMID: 23134748 Document Number: 571491
Oedema is a known adverse effect of the levonorgestrel-containing intrauterine device (Mirena IUD). However, exercise-induced oedema has not been described before. A 38-year-old woman presented with symptoms of diffuse, exercise-induced oedema and dyspnoea. Tests for heart failure and other causes of oedema showed no abnormalities. All symptoms resolved spontaneously after the patient initiated removal of the IUD. The pathophysiology of exercise-induced oedema is still poorly understood. When confronted with a patient with oedema (induced by exercise or other cause), the most common causes must first be excluded. If no explanation can be found, then the effects of medication must not be overlooked.