Novel chemotherapies for acute respiratory distress syndrome

The fatality rate of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has decreased during the 1990s but still exceeds 30％.Management of ARDS is supportive,aimed at improving gas exchange and preventing complications while the underlying disease that precipitated ARDS is treated.Novel drugs which were as potential ARDS specific therapies have been studied.However,they have not been shown to improve clinical outcome and,thus,cannot be recommended for routine care. Key words: Acute respiratory distress syndrome; Novel drug