Klinische Wochenschrift
-
The adult respiratory distress syndrome is a condition of life-threatening organ failure triggered by blood-borne factors and challenges which arrive via the airways. Vascular damage is a necessary, but often not sufficient criterion for ARDS, which is observed in an acute and chronic form. ⋯ Chronic ARDS is a proliferative disorder which may require different treatment strategies than acute ARDS. Specific treatment modalities which inhibit the interaction between activated neutrophils and the lung endothelium, and surfactant replacement might have a future as early therapy approaches.