Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Definition, Causes, and Pathophysiology

Abstract

First successfully described in 1967, acute respiratory distress syndrome has since garnered much interest and debate. Extensive studies and clinical trials have been carried out in efforts to address the associated high mortality; however, it remains a significant burden on health care. Despite the heterogeneous etiologies that lead to the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome, this rapidly progressing form of respiratory failure, characterized by severe hypoxemia and nonhydrostatic pulmonary edema, has a recognizable pattern of lung injury. In this chapter, we will review the clinical manifestations, definitions, causes, and a brief overview of the pathophysiology of this complex syndrome.

Predictive value of ELWI combined with sRAGE/esRAGE levels in the prognosis of critically ill patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome

“…ARDS is a diffuse uncontrolled alveolar inflammatory disease, the hallmarks of which are alveolar damage, lung microvascular leakage, and overt noncardiogenic pulmonary oedema 1 , 26 . The inflammatory response plays an important role in the progression of ARDS, and it involves the infiltration of various immune cells, including neutrophils, macrophages, and lymphocytes, into the lung tissues and small airways 26 .…”

“…ARDS is a diffuse uncontrolled alveolar inflammatory disease, the hallmarks of which are alveolar damage, lung microvascular leakage, and overt noncardiogenic pulmonary oedema 1 , 26 . The inflammatory response plays an important role in the progression of ARDS, and it involves the infiltration of various immune cells, including neutrophils, macrophages, and lymphocytes, into the lung tissues and small airways 26 . RAGE, as a multiligand receptor of the immunoglobulin superfamily, is able to induce intracellular signalling pathways that regulate several inflammatory diseases by binding a diverse array of ligands, such as advanced glycation end products (AGEs), S100/calgranulins, HMGB1 proteins, amyloid-β peptides and the family of β-sheet fibrils 27 .…”

Auxiliary role of mesenchymal stem cells as regenerative medicine soldiers to attenuate inflammatory processes of severe acute respiratory infections caused by COVID-19

“…Nevertheless, respiratory distress (such as dyspnea and tachypnea) with lower arterial saturation of oxygen, epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, and hypotension are common symptoms. Further, in the early phases of ARDS, respiratory involvement might be the only sign of the disease (Virani et al 2019). The characteristic pathological findings in the lungs of ARDS patients can be divided into three groups according to the phases of occurrence; in the acute phase which refers to the first 6 days, interstitial and alveolar edema with the accumulation of neutrophils, macrophages and red blood cells in the alveoli and also endothelial and epithelial injury could be founded.…”

A systematic review and meta-analysis of effect evaluation of traditional Chinese medicine in treating acute respiratory distress syndrome

“…Western medicine treatment is mostly based on supportive treatment, including primary disease treatment, oxygen therapy, mechanical ventilation, drug therapy, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation technology, lung transplantation, and stem cell transplantation. Although western medicine has improved the treatment of ARDS, there has been no substantial decrease in the fatality rate of ARDS patients (5). Therefore, the current western medical treatment for ARDS is still based on primary disease treatment, organ support, and mechanical ventilation.…”