Background and Aim: Acute pulmonary edema is one of the most prevalent symptoms of heart deficiency and mitral stenosis. The aim of this study is the evaluation of the most common symptoms and signs, etiology and also the most common precipitating factors in patients with acute pulmonary edema. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional-prospective study in the Heart Emergency Department of Mashhad Imam Reza Hospital between April 2001 and April 2002. All patients with acute pulmonary edema admitted to the Emergency Department were studied. For every patient a questionnaire was filled out and the statistical evaluation was done by applying the chi-square test, with P≤0.05 as the minimum significant level. Results: From 189 patients who were studies, 81(42.9%) were males and 108 (57.1%) were females. The average time of hospitalization was 4.1 days and the mortality rate during the period was 6.3%. There were no statistical significant differences between the two genders regarding mortality rate. The most common precipitating cause of acute pulmonary edema was reduction or discontinuity of medications by patients (56.1%) and the most common underlying disease was angina pectoris (48.1%). Conclusion: Acute pulmonary edema is the relatively common and serious clinical symptom of cardiac disease. Paying more attention to its predisposing factors and early, appropriate management could reduce its morbidity and mortality

Keywords: Cardiogenic acute pulmonary edema, Angina pectoris, Clinical symptoms

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