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08:58
Development of a Neonatal Piglet Acute Lung Injury Model Recreating the Early Environment of Preterm Infant Lungs
Published on: October 31, 2025
Acute lung injury review
Kenji Tsushima1, Landon S King, Neil R Aggarwal
1Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA. tsushima@shinshu-u.ac.jp
Internal Medicine (Tokyo, Japan)
|May 8, 2009
Summary
Acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) cause significant global health issues. This review examines recent clinical trials for ALI/ARDS, highlighting the gap between animal models and human treatments.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonology
- Critical Care Medicine
- Pathophysiology
Background:
- Acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are severe diffuse lung diseases with high mortality.
- Estimates suggest 190,000 US cases annually, leading to 74,500 deaths.
- Common causes include sepsis, pneumonia, trauma, and pancreatitis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent randomized clinical trials for ALI/ARDS.
- To discuss the pathophysiologic complexity and clinical variability of human ALI/ARDS.
- To highlight the challenges in translating animal model findings to human clinical trials.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent randomized, controlled trials for ALI/ARDS.
- Analysis of pathophysiologic stages: acute inflammation, fibroproliferation, and resolution.
- Examination of immune responses involving neutrophils and alveolar macrophages.
Main Results:
- Significant research has advanced understanding of ALI/ARDS pathophysiology in animal models.
- Translating these findings into effective human treatments via clinical trials remains a challenge.
- The 1994 American-European Consensus Conference definition improved patient identification for trials.
Conclusions:
- Human ALI/ARDS presents complex pathophysiology and variable clinical courses.
- Despite advances in animal models, effective human therapies are still limited.
- Continued focus on randomized clinical trials is crucial for advancing ALI/ARDS treatment.
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