Which of the following is considered an inflammatory cause of edema?

Angiogenesis is indeed associated with various inflammatory processes that can lead to edema. This process involves the formation of new blood vessels from existing ones and is often driven by inflammatory mediators such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). During inflammation, the increased vascular permeability allows fluids and proteins to escape from the bloodstream into the surrounding tissues, which contributes to localized swelling, or edema.

In contrast, while options like increased organ pressure, reduced plasma osmotic pressure, and sodium retention can lead to edema, they are typically not classified as inflammatory causes. Increased organ pressure, such as that caused by congestive heart failure (CHF), leads to fluid accumulation due to hemodynamic changes rather than an inflammatory process. Reduced plasma osmotic pressure often results from conditions like liver disease or nephrotic syndrome, which decrease protein levels in the blood but do not directly involve inflammation. Sodium retention can occur in various states, such as heart failure or renal disease, but it is primarily a consequence of fluid balance mechanisms rather than an inflammatory response. Thus, the inflammatory nature of angiogenesis differentiates it as the correct answer regarding the cause of edema.