Hydrogen sulfide in lung injury: therapeutic hope from a toxic gas?

摘要

Could a toxic gas treat injured lungs in critically ill patients? Maybe. In this issue of the journal, Faller et al. provide evidence that hydrogen sulfide is beneficial in an animal model, raising the question: might it help patients? To understand the importance of these findings,1 we need to understand the context. Acute respiratory distress syndrome is common, often lethal, and consumes enormous resources. Mechanical ventilation is the mainstay of supportive therapy, allowing adequate oxygenation and assisting with the increased work of breathing. Although such mechanical ventilation is acutely lifesaving, it has an attributable mortality and morbidity caused by lung injury that is initiated by cyclic distension of lung tissue.