title: The effect of salicylate infusion on the alveolar epithelial membrane in the isolated perfused lung.
abstract: We observed two patients with aspirin (ASA) ingestion (blood levels of 87 and 56.5 mg/100 ml) who presented with noncardiogenic pulmonary edema (adult respiratory distress syndrome. To determine if ASA had a direct effect on the alveolar epithelial membrane, we established an in vitro isolated lung model and perfused it with platelet free plasma. T1/2 (in minutes), the time for 50% equilibration between the plasma and the saline filled lung, was determined before and after 500 mg salicylate infusion for various molecular weight dextrans. T1/2 decreased significantly (p less than 0.05) as follows: 3000 MW dextran, 2273 +/- 932 to 961 +/- 375; 40,000 MW dextran, 4059 +/- 1550 to 733 +/- 275; 70,000 MW dextran, 11,730 +/- 2750 to 7700 +/- 2230. Histamine levels in plasma and lung liquid did not change significantly with ASA infusion. We conclude that ASA directly increases alveolar epithelial permeability to dextrans less than 70,000 MW.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D003911:Dextrans; D004285:Dogs; D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008566:Membranes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010539:Permeability; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D012459:Salicylates / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D003911:Dextrans; D012459:Salicylates