The Pharmacology of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is a common respiratory complication of critical severe illness or injury. Despite steady improvement in outcomes over the last three decades, ARDS remains a common cause of morbidity and mortality in pediatric and adult intensive care units. Due to its extensive burden, ARDS has been the focus of numerous multi-center clinical trials which have attempted to translate animal, ex vivo, and small single center studies into wider practice. Since the results of several of these large studies have been recently published, we sought to review the pharmacology of ARDS, summarize the major non-pharmacologic interventions shown to improve outcome, and update the reader on evolving therapies which may enter clinical practice in the coming decade.