title: Ketoconazole in the prevention of acute respiratory distress syndrome.
abstract: We conducted a critical review of the literature on ketoconazole in preventing acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a serious disorder associated with high mortality. Two double-blind, prospective, placebo-controlled, randomized trials compared ketoconazole with placebo for prophylaxis of ARDS. In one trial, compared with placebo, ketoconazole resulted in a reduced frequency of ARDS (6% vs 31%, p<0.01), lower plasma thromboxane B2 levels (33 vs 75 pg/ml, p<0.05), and shorter intensive care unit stay (7 vs 15.5 days, p<0.05). In the second trial the drug reduced the frequency of ARDS (15% vs 64%, p=0.002), lowered thromboxane B2 levels (83 vs 143 pg/ml), and reduced mortality (15% vs 39%, p=0.05) compared with placebo. Larger multicenter studies are warranted to validate the findings of these two trials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Plains Health Centre, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: DeVries
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Semchuk
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Betcher
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007654:Ketoconazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013929:Thromboxane B2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D013929:Thromboxane B2; D007654:Ketoconazole