Can diseases that often cause inflammation throughout the body also lead to water retention?

Water retention: Inflammatory diseases might lead to water retention. Keep in mind that many medications that are used to treat inflammation, such as ibuprofen, naproxen, prednisone, etc may cause water retention or swelling. Water retention is also a side effect of other medications.

It's possible but: There are many other non inflammatory conditions such as CHF that can do this as well also some medications can too.

See below: In addition to my colleague's answer, autoimmune diseases that attack the kidneys such as lupus can cause fluid retention as a result of kidney damage.