Effect of Intravenous Interferon β-1a on Death and Days Free From Mechanical Ventilation Among Patients With Moderate to Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Abstract

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening form of respiratory failure characterized by hypoxemia, pulmonary edema not explained by cardiac failure or fluid overload, and diffuse bilateral radiographic opacities occurring in the presence of a predisposing factor.^1,2 No approved drug therapy for ARDS exists. Thus, treatment for ARDS is based on management of the underlying disease and supportive care. Despite substantial progress in ventilatory strategies, the hospital mortality rate of ARDS remains approximately 40%.³ The key pathophysiological event underlying ARDS is an uncontrolled inflammatory response resulting in injury to the epithelium and endothelium of the alveolar-capillary barrier with increased pulmonary vascular leakage.^1,2