Abstract

The acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a process of nonhydrostatic pulmonary edema and hypoxemia associated with a variety of etiologies, carries a high morbidity, mortality (10 to 90%), and financial cost. The reported annual incidence in the United States is 150,000 cases, but this figure has been challenged, and it may be different in Europe. Part of the reason for these uncertainties are the heterogeneity of diseases underlying ARDS and the lack of uniform definitions for ARDS. Thus, those who wish to know the true incidence and outcome of this clinical syndrome are stymied. The American-European Consensus Committee on ARDS was formed to focus on these issues and on the pathophysiologic mechanisms of the process. It was felt that international coordination between North America and Europe in clinical studies of ARDS was becoming increasingly important in order to address the recent plethora of potential therapeutic agents for the prevention and treatment of ARDS.

Keywords

ARDSMedicineIntensive care medicineHypoxemiaEtiologyAcute respiratory distressClinical trialConsensus conferenceIncidence (geometry)LungPathologyInternal medicine

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Publication Info

Year
1994
Type
review
Volume
149
Issue
3
Pages
818-824
Citations
6702
Access
Closed

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Gordon R. Bernard, Antonio Artigas, Kenneth L. Brigham et al. (1994). The American-European Consensus Conference on ARDS. Definitions, mechanisms, relevant outcomes, and clinical trial coordination.. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine , 149 (3) , 818-824. https://doi.org/10.1164/ajrccm.149.3.7509706

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DOI
10.1164/ajrccm.149.3.7509706