THERAPEUTIC TARGETS FOR ACUTE LUNG INJURY/ACUTE RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SYNDROME

摘要

Acute lung injury (ALI) describes the numerous symptoms and syndromes associated with hypoxemic respiratory failure, the most severe form of which is acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). ALI/ARDS can be triggered by extensive lung inflammation and small blood vessel injury, such as in the setting of sepsis, trauma and pulmonary infection. Injury to the lung triggers an intense inflammatory response in pulmonary tissue, causing the alveoli to collapse or fill with fluid and hence lose their ability to mediate gas exchange with the blood. Fibrinogenesis and dysregulation of the coagulation cascade may also occur, further compromising pulmonary function. Standard treatment involves mechanical ventilation and a conservative fluid management strategy, with additional therapeutic components prescribed, such as antibiotics, immunosuppressants, vasodilators, surfactant therapy and/or diuretics. However, at present, there is no single treatment that reduces mortality in this clinical setting. Thus, the search continues for more effective treatment strategies for ALI/ARDS, with investigation focused on identifying novel targets for therapeutic intervention. This article presents the drug targets that are currently under active investigation for the treatment of ALI/ARDS.