Which of the following is a hallmark of right-sided heart failure?

• A. Pulmonary Edema
• B. Left Ventricular Hypertrophy
• C. Peripheral Edema
• D. Systemic Venous Congestion

Answer: (C)

Right-sided heart failure causes blood to back up into the systemic venous circulation, so fluid accumulates in the body's tissues. The most visible and classic sign of this backward flow is peripheral edema, especially in the legs and ankles when upright. While systemic venous congestion (like jugular venous distension or hepatomegaly) accompanies this, the outward, easily recognized manifestation that clinicians often point to as a hallmark is edema in the periphery. Pulmonary edema is more characteristic of left-sided failure, and left ventricular hypertrophy is a structural change of the left heart, not a hallmark of right-sided failure.