title: Pathophysiology of acute respiratory distress syndrome. Glucocorticoid receptor-mediated regulation of inflammation and response to prolonged glucocorticoid treatment.
abstract: Based on molecular mechanisms and physiologic data, a strong association has been established between dysregulated systemic inflammation and progression of ARDS. In ARDS patients, glucocorticoid receptor-mediated down-regulation of systemic inflammation is essential to restore homeostasis, decrease morbidity and improve survival and can be significantly enhanced with prolonged low-to-moderate dose glucocorticoid treatment. A large body of evidence supports a strong association between prolonged glucocorticoid treatment-induced down-regulation of the inflammatory response and improvement in pulmonary and extrapulmonary physiology. The balance of the available data from controlled trials provides consistent strong level of evidence (grade 1B) for improving patient-centered outcomes. The sizable increase in mechanical ventilation-free days (weighted mean difference, 6.58 days; 95% CI, 2.93 -10.23; P<0.001) and ICU-free days (weighted mean difference, 7.02 days; 95% CI, 3.20-10.85; P<0.001) by day 28 is superior to any investigated intervention in ARDS. The largest meta-analysis on the subject concluded that treatment was associated with a significant risk reduction (RR=0.62, 95% CI: 0.43-0.91; P=0.01) in mortality and that the in-hospital number needed to treat to save one life was 4 (95% CI 2.4-10). The balance of the available data, however, originates from small controlled trials with a moderate degree of heterogeneity and provides weak evidence (grade 2B) for a survival benefit. Treatment decisions involve a tradeoff between benefits and risks, as well as costs. This low cost highly effective therapy is familiar to every physician and has a low risk profile when secondary prevention measures are implemented.
authors.affiliation: University of Tennessee Health Science Center and Memphis Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Departments of Medicine, Memphis, 38104 TN, United States. gmeduri@uthsc.edu
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Umberto Meduri
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sinclair
authors.forename: Djillali
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Annane
mesh_terms: D055371:Acute Lung Injury / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity / Q000502:physiology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D011379:Prognosis; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid
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