Potential mechanisms by which statins modulate the development of acute lung injury

Abstract

Acute lung injury (ALI) and the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are characterized by acute hypoxemic respiratory failure and bilateral pulmonary infiltrates that are not attributable to left atrial hypertension [1]. ALI/ARDS is a heterogeneous disease with a complex pathophysiology that may occur in response to a direct pulmonary or indirect systemic injury [1]. ALI and ARDS are different spectrums of the same condition. ALI is characterized by a PaO 2/FiO2 ratio of less than 300 mmHg (40 kPa). ARDS, the more severe end of the spectrum on the basis of oxygenation criteria, is defined by a PaO2/FiO2 ratio of less than 200 mmHg (26 kPa). A recent prospective cohort study estimated the incidence of ALI to be 79/ 100,000 person years [2]. Mortality remains high although more recent trials have reported a lower mortality [3, 4]. © 2007 Springer Science + Business Media Inc.