Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 3, 2026
Intratracheal Instillation of Stem Cells in Term Neonatal Rats
Published on: May 4, 2020
Steroids in pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome
Nicolás Monteverde-Fernández1,2, Federico Cristiani3, Jenniffer McArthur4
1Red Colaborativa Pediátrica de Latinoamérica (LARed Network), Uruguay.
Insights
Corticosteroids are often used for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), but evidence remains contradictory. This review summarizes current evidence on steroid use in ARDS, with a focus on pediatric ARDS (PARDS).
Area of Science:
- Critical Care Medicine
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) presents significant clinical challenges and resource demands.
- Despite advances in ventilatory management, effective therapeutic interventions for ARDS remain limited.
- Corticosteroids have been historically considered for ARDS due to their biological rationale, but their efficacy is debated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and summarize existing evidence on the use of corticosteroids in treating ARDS.
- To specifically examine the role and evidence of steroid therapy in pediatric ARDS (PARDS).
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of available literature on corticosteroid use in ARDS.
- Analysis of adult and pediatric studies, focusing on treatment outcomes and adverse effects.
- Synthesis of evidence to address the controversy surrounding steroid use in ARDS.
Main Results:
- Abundant but contradictory data exists regarding corticosteroid efficacy in adult ARDS.
- The routine use of corticosteroids in ARDS remains controversial.
- Limited specific data on PARDS necessitates further investigation.
Conclusions:
- Evidence for routine corticosteroid use in ARDS is inconclusive, highlighting the need for more research.
- The heterogeneity of ARDS complicates evidence-based recommendations for steroid therapy.
- Further studies are crucial to establish the role of steroids in managing PARDS.
Abstract:
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a complex entity with high potential for harm and healthcare resource utilization. Despite multiple clinical advances in its ventilatory management, ARDS continues to be one of the most challenging disease processes for intensivists. It continues to lack a direct, proven and desperately needed effective therapeutic intervention. Given their biologic rationale, corticosteroids have been widely used by clinicians and considered useful by many in the management of ARDS since its first description. Adult data is abundant, yet contradictory. Controversy remains regarding the routine use of corticosteroids in ARDS. Therefore, widespread evidence-based recommendations for this heterogeneous disease process have not been made. In this article, our aim was to provide a summary of available evidence for the role of steroids in the treatment of ARDS, while giving special focus on pediatric ARDS (PARDS).
Related Concept Videos
01:29Acute Respiratory Failure-V
Ensure that patients are monitored continuously for their response to therapy, including changes in...
01:17Drugs Used in Lower Respiratory Disorders: Overview
Bronchodilators, the first step of respiration enhancement, come in various forms, each with its own mechanism...
01:21Acute Respiratory Failure-II
The underlying physiological abnormalities that contribute to hypoxemic respiratory failure include:
01:25Antiasthma Drugs: Inhaled Corticosteroids and Glucocorticoids
ICS work through a multifaceted mechanism of action. They suppress the inflammatory response caused by the proliferation of TH cells. They also reduce the transcription of the IL-2 gene, which is involved in the...
01:21Acute Respiratory Failure-I
Definition: It is defined by specific criteria based on blood gas measurements. Hypoxemia happens when the partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) falls below 60 mmHg. At the same time,...
01:30Acute Respiratory Failure-III