Pharmacological Treatments for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

The term acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) was first coined in 1967 to define a clinical syndrome categorized by progressive hypoxemia, dyspnea, and increased work of breathing that is unresponsive to standard respiratory therapy.¹  Acute respiratory distress syndrome presents as acute respiratory failure with noncardiogenic pulmonary edema and severe hypoxemia.²  Historically, this syndrome of potentially fatal pulmonary complications described in critically ill patients was further divided into acute lung injury (ALI) and ARDS, with ALI representing a more mild presentation of ARDS.²  More recently, the concept of ALI has been replaced with mild, moderate, and severe classifications for ARDS.³ 

Despite the substantial progress made in understanding the mechanism of this disease process, ARDS continues to be a major clinical concern. The estimated prevalence in the intensive care unit (ICU) ranges from 4% to 9%, with up to 50% of patients with mild ARDS progressing to moderate...