title: Current knowledge of acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome.
abstract: Acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS) continues to be a major cause of mortality in adult and pediatric critical care medicine. This article discusses the pulmonary sequelae associated with ALI and ARDS, the support of ARDS with mechanical ventilation, available adjunctive therapies, and experimental therapies currently being tested. It is hoped that further understanding of the fundamental biology, improved identification of the patient's inflammatory state, and application of therapies directed at multiple sites of action may ultimately prove beneficial for patients suffering from ALI/ARDS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Care, University of Michigan Health System, 8-720 Mott Hospital, 1540 East Hospital Drive, SPC 4208, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. rdechert@umich.edu
authors.forename: Ronald E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Dechert
authors.forename: Carl F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Haas
authors.forename: Waseem
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ostwani
mesh_terms: D055371:Acute Lung Injury / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D016207:Cytokines / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D018450:Disease Progression; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D055397:Ventilator-Induced Lung Injury / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators