The causes of acute pulmonary edema are cardiogenic pulmonary edema and non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema.
1. Cardiogenic pulmonary edema: elevated pulmonary venous pressure without increased left ventricular end-diastolic filling pressure, such as mitral stenosis and left atrial mucocele resulting in elevated left atrial pressure.
Elevated pulmonary venous pressure secondary to increased left ventricular end-diastolic filling pressure, e.g., aortic valve disease, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and cardiomyopathy.
Elevated pulmonary capillary pressure secondary to elevated pulmonary artery pressure, so-called hyperperfusion pulmonary edema.
2. Non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema: refers to diseases in which there is no left ventricular or left atrial overload and in which there is no increase in interstitial and/or alveolar fluid leakage in the presence of diminished myocardial contractility. Examples include neurogenic pulmonary edema, infectious pulmonary edema.
In the presence of these symptoms it is recommended to seek medical attention to clarify the cause.