Next Article in Journal
IFNγ Is a Key Link between Obesity and Th1-Mediated AutoImmune Diseases
Next Article in Special Issue
PPAR Gamma: From Definition to Molecular Targets and Therapy of Lung Diseases
Previous Article in Journal
Phenolic Compounds Cannabidiol, Curcumin and Quercetin Cause Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Suppress Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Cells
Previous Article in Special Issue
Endothelial Damage in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
 
 
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Review

Novel Perspectives Regarding the Pathology, Inflammation, and Biomarkers of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

by
Pradeesh Sivapalan
*,
Barbara Bonnesen
and
Jens-Ulrik Jensen
Respiratory Medicine Section, Department of Internal Medicine, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, 2900 Hellerup, Denmark
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(1), 205; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22010205
Submission received: 2 December 2020 / Revised: 22 December 2020 / Accepted: 24 December 2020 / Published: 28 December 2020

Abstract

:
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is an acute inflammation of the lung resulting from damage to the alveolar–capillary membrane, and it is diagnosed using a combination of clinical and physiological variables. ARDS develops in approximately 10% of hospitalised patients with pneumonia and has a mortality rate of approximately 40%. Recent research has identified several biomarkers associated with ARDS pathophysiology, and these may be useful for diagnosing and monitoring ARDS. They may also highlight potential therapeutic targets. This review summarises our current understanding of those clinical biomarkers: (1) biomarkers of alveolar and bronchiolar injury, (2) biomarkers of endothelial damage and coagulation, and (3) biomarkers for treatment responses.

1. Introduction

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is characterised by uncontrolled inflammation and damage to endothelial and epithelial barriers of the lung. It results in increased permeability of the alveolar–capillary membrane, infiltration of inflammatory cells, and excessive release of cytokines and chemokines, and it leads to acute noncardiogenic pulmonary oedema. Clinical symptoms associated with ARDS include severe hypoxia, difficulties performing gas exchange, impairment of lung mechanics, and respiratory failure [1,2]. A panel of experts assembled in 2011 (an initiative of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine endorsed by the American Thoracic Society and the Society of Critical Care Medicine) and developed the Berlin Definition of ARDS using a consensus process. The Berlin definition requires all four criteria depicted in Table 1 to be present for a diagnosis of ARDS (Table 1) [3].
ARDS is associated with several risk factors, including pulmonary and non-pulmonary sepsis, severe pneumonia, pulmonary contusions, trauma, drug overdose, and aspiration of gastric contents [2]. Despite recent progress, it remains difficult to successfully treat sepsis and ARDS, and because the underlying molecular mechanisms are not completely understood, ARDS mortality rates remain unacceptably high [4].
Biomarkers may be useful for identifying ARDS, stratifying risks, and predicting specific outcomes (e.g., mortality). They may also be used for assessing the severity of illnesses, revealing prognoses, and monitoring responses to therapy. Therefore, diagnostic biomarkers of ARDS may be used to identify those patients who are most likely to benefit from therapeutic interventions. Although several ARDS biomarkers have been identified, none of them are considered reliable enough for clinical application. It is unlikely that any single biomarker will be able to predict the risk of ARDS, diagnose the disease, or determine prognoses with complete accuracy. However, there may be particular sets of markers that can be used to identify groups of patients with particular characteristics associated with the severity of illness and prognosis (Table 2).
In this review, we describe some of the most promising ARDS biomarkers. We focus on three areas of interest: (1) alveolar and bronchiolar injury, (2) endothelial damage and coagulation, and (3) biomarkers for treatment responses (Figure 1).

2. Alveolar and Bronchiolar Injury Biomarkers

2.1. Surfactant Protein D

Surfactant protein D (SP-D) is mainly produced by alveolar type II cells in the lung epithelium, and it is secreted to the surfactant layer of the alveoli. SP-D expression is stimulated by lung injury or infection and may then be detected in plasma. Plasma SP-D levels have been used as a biomarker for lung injury, particularly alveolar epithelial injury [5], and SP-D levels are higher in patients with more severe lung injuries and those who have more severe outcomes, including prolonged mechanical ventilation and death [6,7,8]. SP-D predicted mortality in patients with ARDS (N = 528) in a cohort-based on the ALVEOLI Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) [8]. In a cohort based on two RCTs (N = 547 and N= 500), a combination of three biomarkers (interleukin (IL)-8, soluble tumour necrosis factor receptor-1, and SP-D) had prognostic value on mortality [9]. A mortality prediction model for ARDS that included age, APACHE III, SP-D, and IL-8 performed well in a validation cohort with 849 patients in the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute ARDSNet Fluid and Catheter Treatment Trial (FACTT), 144 patients from a clinical trial of sivelestat for ARDS (STRIVE), and 545 ARDS patients from the VALID observational cohort study [10]. SP-D levels can be used to identify patients with alveolar lung disease and to stratify these patients according to risk. They also correlate with the severity of the illness. In addition, plasma SP-D levels can be helpful to diagnose ARDS [11], because patients with ARDS exhibit an increase in SP-D levels, which peaks between days 3 and 7 of the illness [6]. This has been shown in several studies, e.g., high levels of SP-D within 48 h after intensive care unit (ICU) admission (N = 407) might serve as a diagnostic marker for ARDS in patients hospitalised in medical ICU [11] and patients with severe sepsis (N =100) [12]. In summary, plasma SP-D appears to be a promising biomarker in ARDS.

2.2. Krebs von den Lungen-6

A second biomarker that is released by injured Type II pneumocytes is glycoprotein Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6), also known as MUC1. KL-6 was initially associated with non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, and a high initial KL-6 level in serum or plasma may predict poor clinical outcome, including 5-year survival in these patients [13,14,15,16]. KL-6 has also been associated with interstitial lung disease and may be elevated, especially during exacerbation in these patients [17], and KL-6 has been linked to obstructive sleep apnea, where it has been proposed to reflect the degree of subclinical lung injury associated with obstructive sleep apnea [18,19]. Finally, KL-6 has been analysed in small case-control studies of patients with ARDS. An increase in KL-6 levels may also indicate alveolar injury, and although KL-6 is a nonspecific marker, patients with ARDS show increased levels of KL-6 in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and plasma [20]. One study showed that levels of KL-6 had increased significantly in the epithelial lining fluid of patients with ARDS who later died. Additionally, an increase in KL-6 levels was detectable from disease onset, suggesting that KL-6 levels may be used to determine prognoses [20]. KL-6 might be elevated; it possibly increases over time as the disease progresses, and it possibly to some extent reflects the subtype of ARDS [7,21,22]. Hence, the elevated levels of KL-6 in plasma/serum in patients with pulmonary disease does not seem capable of distinguishing between the underlying condition, and its usefulness in ARDS is unclear with the currently available data.

2.3. Soluble Receptor for Advanced Glycation end Products

Soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE) is a marker of lung epithelial injury. It is a decoy receptor that competitively inhibits signaling through membrane bound sRAGE, hereby inhibiting inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α. Plasma levels of sRAGE could not predict ARDS in 129 patients with severe sepsis [23], nor in 230 critically ill patients [24]; however, higher levels of sRAGE predicted ARDS in a multicentre, prospective observational cohort study of 464 critically ill patients [25], and sRAGE was associated with mortality in a meta-analysis of 746 patients with ARDS based on eight trials; one large RCT-based cohort, four non-RCT based cohorts, and three case-control studies [26]. This meta-analysis was probably dominated somewhat by the RCT-based cohort of 676 patients [27], as the other cohort studies only included 21–119 patients [28,29,30,31] and the case-control studies only included 16–33 cases [7,32,33]; however, the authors do not specify their method of patient inclusion. The RCT cohort was from an RCT on mechanical ventilation strategies for patients with ARDS which was performed by the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Network [34]. A combination of sRAGE and Angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) were superior to clinical diagnosis for the diagnosis of ARDS in severe trauma [35]. In severe sepsis, a combination containing sRAGE, SP-D, and Club Cell Protein 16 was useful for the diagnosis of ARDS [12]. Therefore, in combination with other markers, sRAGE appears to be a useful diagnostic biomarker.

3. Endothelial Injury and Coagulation Biomarkers

3.1. Gelsolin

ARDS is characterised by endothelial cell damage, hypercoagulability, and intravascular fibrin deposition due to impaired fibrinolysis. The actin-scavenging protein gelsolin is continuously produced by muscle cells and serves as a physiological buffer of actin in the blood [36]. Actin is released into the blood following tissue damage. In response, gelsolin levels decrease due to the formation and subsequent clearance of actin–gelsolin complexes. Plasma gelsolin levels decrease when lung tissue is damaged, and a recent study of 700 patients who were critically ill showed that a low plasma gelsolin level was a strong predictor of poor respiratory outcomes, but not general outcomes, in mechanically ventilated patients. Therefore, gelsolin levels could be used together with SP-D levels to predict respiratory outcomes [37]. This observation requires further validation in other cohorts of critically ill ventilated patients. Although non-specific markers of endothelial injury such as soluble thrombomodulin (TM) and syndecan-A do not predict ARDS, they do predict overall prognoses for both children and adults with pre-existing respiratory failure. The ProCESS RCT (N = 1341) recorded baseline plasma levels for several proteins linked to endothelial cell permeability and haemostasis. This trial reported that the baseline values of several endothelial injury markers were higher in patients who died than in patients who survived. Among these markers were Ang-2, soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1, the soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, TM, and von Willebrand factor [38].

3.2. Thrombomodulin

The membrane-bound endothelial cell glycoprotein TM, also known as CD141 or BDCA-3 is an important physiological anticoagulant in pulmonary capillary vessels. It may be released from the cell membrane into circulation during inflammation of almost any kind including smoking, ionising radiation, radiation pneumonitis, exacerbations of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and surgery.
Although TM does not seem to predict ARDS, TM levels may predict severity and mortality, as shown in large studies where TM was able to predict 60-day mortality in a cohort of 449 patients with ARDS based on the FACTT RCT [39], and in a likewise large study (N = 1103), TM was a strong and independent predictor of organ failure and 90-day mortality from all causes in patients with sepsis [40]. In a small cohort study (N = 75) from the APC RCT, TM predicted the severity of ARDS [41], but in a few small studies, TM could not predict mortality [41,42], which was probably due to small sample sizes (N = 75 and N = 50).

3.3. Protein C

TM activates Protein C (in its activated form, it is also known as Drotrecogin alfa and Autoprothrombin II-A), which seems to exert a protective function on endothelial cells. Protein C levels are also elevated in cases of pulmonary inflammation; however, only a few studies have analysed its possible role as a biomarker for ARDS. Protein C predicted 28-day mortality in both a cohort study based on the PROWESS trial (a placebo-controlled, double-blind, RCT) with 840 patients with sepsis [43] and in a cohort of 440 patients with sepsis and an average PaO2/FiO2 ratio consistent with ARDS [44]. The predictive quality of Protein C could not be verified in smaller studies [42,45], which was probably due to small sample size (N = 50 and N = 53). Hence, the role of Protein C as a biomarker looks promising with the currently available data.

3.4. Endocan

Endocan, also known as endothelial cell-specific molecule 1, is a proteoglycan expressed by pulmonary endothelium, which may weaken inflammatory responses by inhibiting leukocyte recruitment. Endocan has only been analysed in small studies of lung injury, and its potential as a biomarker remains unclear with the currently available evidence [45,46,47,48,49,50,51,52].

3.5. Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1

Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI or PAI-1) inhibits tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA or PLAT) and urinary kinase (uPA) and hereby fibrinolysis. Small case-control studies have pointed toward a role for PAI as a biomarker in lung disease [53,54,55]; however, this association has not yet been confirmed in cohort analyses [30,41,42,56], although some of the cohorts were based on RCTs. There are no studies analysing roles for uPa as a biomarker for lung injury, and similarly, any roles for tPa are currently occult [53].

3.6. Angiopoietin-2

Ang-2, also known as AGPT2, is expressed predominantly by the activated endothelium, and though its expression is low in quiescent mature vessels, it is strongly increased in inflammatory settings [57]. Higher levels of plasma Ang-2 seems to predict pulmonary affection in cohort studies in critically ill patients with various underlying courses: N = 230 in an emergency department [24], N = 439 with severe trauma [58], N = 84 who had undergone cardiac surgery [59], and N = 50 with septic shock and mechanical ventilation [60]. Ang-2 also seems to predict severity and mortality in patients with pulmonary damage. It predicted the severity of ARDS in 101 critically ill patients [61], and it predicted mortality in patients with ARDS in a cohort-based on the FACTT RCT: N = 252 on mechanical ventilation [62], N = 63 after surgical intervention [63], and N = 41 with sepsis [64] in addition to ARDS. However, there is also a cohort of 53 patients with ARDS in which Ang-2 was not able to predict the severity of illness or 28-day mortality [45], even though this study included 28 patients who died of ARDS. Hence, Ang-2 seems a promising biomarker for the development of ARDS as well as evaluation of severity and mortality.

3.7. Von Willebrand Factor

The von Willebrand factor (vWF) is involved in normal blood coagulation; however, it has also been proposed to be associated with inflammation. vWF does not predict the development of ARDS [23,24,65]. Similarly, vWF did not predict the development of multiple-organ failure or mortality in 100 patients with ARDS [30]; however, elevated plasma VWF levels did predict both the severity and mortality in 559 patients with ARDS [66]. Hence, vWF probably does not have a potential as a biomarker for ARDS; however, it may be a predictor for mortality in some subsets of patients with ARDS.

4. Treatment Response Biomarkers

4.1. Lung Inflammation Biomarkers

Previously, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation was thought to be triggered mainly by neutrophil-mediated inflammation, whereas eosinophilic inflammation was considered more characteristic of asthma. However, a subset of 20–40% of COPD patients display eosinophilic airway inflammation, even when those who potentially have asthma are excluded [67]. Eosinophils are important inflammatory and immune effector cells. Generally, eosinophils lie dormant in the blood, but upon exposure to proinflammatory cytokines (e.g., interleukin [IL]-3, IL-6, or granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor), they become activated and accumulate in inflamed tissue [68]. The presence of eosinophils in the lung is indicative of an abnormal inflammatory reaction [69]. Typically, eosinophils are quantified as a percentage of the total number of leukocytes or as the number of cells per µL, and these measurement methods agree in practice [67,70].
Blood eosinophil counts are often used as a proxy for eosinophilic lung inflammation because they correspond to sputum eosinophil counts [68]. Eosinophilic inflammation can occur when COPD is stable or during exacerbations [67]. Many studies have shown that blood eosinophil counts and relevant clinical COPD outcomes are linked. In addition, most of these studies found that an increased number of eosinophils in the blood (i.e., an eosinophilic COPD phenotype) was linked to poorer clinical outcomes such as an increased risk of hospital readmission, longer hospital stays, and future exacerbations [71,72,73,74,75]. In contrast to patients with stable COPD, those with acute exacerbations are usually treated with orally administered systemic corticosteroids such as prednisolone [76]. Systemic corticosteroids can promote recovery from symptoms but do not alleviate long-term declines in lung function, prevent future exacerbations after the first month, decrease the duration of intensive care treatment, or reduce mortality rates [77]. The criteria used to define COPD exacerbations (i.e., acute deterioration in respiratory symptoms that necessitates additional therapy) are broad and may encourage the overuse of corticosteroids [78]. In addition, the overuse of systemic corticosteroids may increase the risk of diabetes, osteoporotic fractures, cataracts, infections [79], and venous thromboembolism [80,81]. One possible strategy for limiting the use of systemic corticosteroids is to use blood eosinophil counts to guide corticosteroid treatment. An RCT that used blood eosinophils to categorise patients as having eosinophilic or non-eosinophilic exacerbations showed that treating non-eosinophilic exacerbations with placebo was not inferior to treating them with systemic corticosteroids. In particular, these researchers showed that there was a reduction of 49% in the total corticosteroid prescription for the eosinophil-guided group (p < 0.001) [82]. In addition, other studies have demonstrated that COPD patients with high blood eosinophil counts exhibit a better response to treatment with corticosteroids than do patients with low blood eosinophil counts [83,84,85]. Furthermore, the randomised non-inferiority CORTICO-COP trial was able to show that daily eosinophil counts could be used to guide treatment that reduced corticosteroid usage in hospitalised patients with COPD exacerbations. A reduction in median corticosteroid treatment duration from 5 days to 2 days was observed, with approximately two-thirds of the eosinophil-guided treatment patients taking no corticosteroids on any given day throughout the study, except on day 1. The treatment algorithm did not affect the number of days patients were alive and out of hospital within 14 days after recruitment or the 30-day all-cause mortality rate. In addition, among those patients with pre-existing diabetes in the eosinophil-guided corticosteroid group, fewer had hyperglycaemia or deteriorating of diabetes [86]. These analyses suggest that blood eosinophil count may be used as a biomarker to guide corticosteroid therapy for patients with COPD exacerbations and to decrease unnecessary exposure to systemic corticosteroids.

4.1.1. Interleukin-1β

IL-1β, also known as leukocytic pyrogen, leukocytic endogenous mediator, mononuclear cell factor, and lymphocyte activating factor, is an important mediator of inflammation, but only a few studies have analysed its role as a biomarker for ARDS. A case-control study did not find different plasma levels of IL-1β in patients with ARDS, patients with severe pneumonia and healthy controls [87]; however, in a cohort study, elevated IL-1β levels predicted sepsis and mortality in 43 patients with ARDS [88]. Hence, the role for IL-1β as a biomarker is currently unclear.

4.1.2. Interleukin-6

IL-6, also known as hepatocyte growth factor, B-Cell Stimulatory Factor 2, and Interferon-β-2, is a pro-inflammatory cytokine, which is induced by infections and tissue injury associated with any inflammation, such as increased level of Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease severity in patients with COPD [89] and exacerbations of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis [17]. Although IL-6 is not specific to pulmonary tissue, cohort and case-control studies have pointed toward a role for IL-6 in pulmonary inflammation and injury: IL-6 predicted the development of ARDS in 129 patients with severe sepsis [23] and 48 patients in an ICU [90]. IL-6 was associated with ARDS in case-control studies of patients with severe sepsis [12] and in patients with severe pneumonia [87,91].
IL-6 has also been studied for its ability to predict the severity of ARDS, including mortality. It predicted the severity of ARDS in 101 critically ill patients with new-onset fever [61], and it predicted sepsis and ICU mortality in 43 patients with ARDS [88], as well as the severity of ARDS and 28-day mortality in an analysis of two cohorts from RCTs (APC study with 75 patients and the ALVEOLI study with 259 patients) [41]. However, there are also a couple of studies that have not been able to show an association between IL-6 plasma levels and severity in patients with pulmonary injury. In 50 patients with early ARDS, there was no association between IL-6 by multivariate analysis, despite there being 21 non-survivors in the study [42]. Similarly, IL-6 did not predict mortality in 252 mechanically ventilated subjects with ARDS [62]. Hence, though IL-6 seems elevated in many patients with many kinds of lung injury, it may not always predict mortality in patients with lung injury.

4.1.3. Interleukin-8

IL-8, also known as C-X- Motif Chemokine Ligand 8, anionic neutrophil-activating peptide, monocyte-derived neutrophil chemotactic factor lung, neutrophil chemotactant factor, and neutrophil-activating factor, is a chemokine produced by macrophages that induces the recruitment of especially neutrophils into a target tissue. Elevated IL-8 levels seem to predict the development of ARDS. In cohort studies, IL-8 predicted the development of ARDS in 230 critically ill patients [24], 172 patients with sepsis or septic shock [65], 129 patients with severe sepsis [23], and in 48 patients in intensive care [90]. A similar correlation was seen in case-control studies [12,54,92].
In patients with lung injury, IL-8 may also to some degree predict the severity of disease and mortality; however, studies on severity and mortality do not yet draw a clear picture of its potential, as they are few and included relatively few patients. In cohort studies, IL-8 predicted fewer days without mechanical ventilation and 28-day mortality in 259 critically ill patients with ARDS [62], and both the development of sepsis and ICU mortality in 43 patients with ARDS [88], and mortality in a small cohort study of 30 patients with ARDS [93]. However, there was also a cohort study of 100 patients with fully developed ARDS, in which IL-8 could not predict mortality, but it did predict multiple organ failure [30]. In a small case-control study (N = 24 patients with ARDS), IL-8 was also correlated to mortality [94].

4.1.4. Interleukin-10

Il-10, also known as Cytokine Synthesis Inhibitory Factor, is an anti-inflammatory cytokine that inhibits the synthesis of IL-1 and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α). A small case-control study showed a role for decreased IL-10 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid; however, subsequently, two cohort studies [95] of 861 and 107 patients with ARDS have demonstrated no ability of plasma IL-10 as a biomarker in lung injury [96,97].

4.2. Tumour Necrosis Factor-α

In two case-control studies, plasma levels of TNF-α were associated to ARDS compared to controls in a trauma intensive care setting [92] and to ARDS compared to patients with severe pneumonia without ARDS [87], and in a cohort study of 43 patients with ARDS, TNF-α predicted the development of sepsis and mortality [88]. A combination of clinical predictors with a combination of seven biomarkers (TNF-α, s-RAGE, collagen deposition (PCPIII), brain natriuretic peptide, Ang-2, IL-10, and IL-8) performed well for differentiating ARDS cases from controls with an area under the ROC curve of 0.86 [92]. Hence, TNF-α, IL-8, and IL-10 may be a potential biomarker for ARDS, but more studies need to be conducted in this area.

4.3. Lung Infection Biomarkers

The observational studies conducted to date have not determined whether procalcitonin (PCT)-guided antibiotic treatment initiation or intensification increases the likelihood of survival in patients who are critically ill with sepsis. The Procalcitonin And Survival Study explored whether PCT-guided initiation or intensification of treatment with antibiotics and other antimicrobial measures could increase the probability that patients would survive by substantially decreasing the time until adequate antibiotics were administered [98]. This RCT study (N = 1200) involved nine intensive care units across Denmark. In the active treatment group, an increase in PCT level led to a wider range of antibiotics being used for treatment according to a specified algorithm and elicited additional culture sampling and radiological imaging of suspected infected foci [99]. Despite a high level of adherence to the antimicrobial intervention algorithm (82%), the study intervention did not increase the likelihood of patient survival. The explanation for this result may be that there is a “neutralising” effect, involving harm from antibiotics counteracting any benefits from better timing of their administration. Notably, several harmful effects were reported from the “high-intensive” antibiotic strategy in the PCT-guided arm of the trial: an increase in the risk of renal failure that was attributed to piperacillin [100], a ciprofloxacin-associated increase in the risk of invasive fungal infection [101] and haematological side effects [102]. Most of the patients who had been classified as high risk (i.e., those with severe sepsis or septic shock) were already being given broad-spectrum antibiotics. Consequently, there was little scope for expanding this spectrum in a way that would likely alter prognoses. Therefore, increasing PCT levels in patients who are critically ill with sepsis should not necessarily lead to more intensive antimicrobial treatments.

4.4. Decreasing the Use of Antibiotics in Patients with Acute Respiratory Infections by Monitoring PCT Levels

According to the World Health Organisation, “antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats to global health, food security, and development today” and “antibiotic resistance occurs naturally, but misuse of antibiotics in humans and animals is accelerating the process”. As a result, many international initiatives have sought to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use and alleviate the problem of antibiotic resistance. Continuous assessment of PCT levels has been investigated as a guide to terminating antibiotic treatment of patients with acute respiratory tract infections in various settings including primary care, emergency care [103], patients with bacteraemia [104], and intensive care [105]. In all of these settings, when an intervention protocol could be implemented, and serial measurements recorded, antibiotic treatment durations could be decreased substantially. The results from these studies and similar research have been collated in a systematic review with sufficient power to explore mortality rates and the side effects of antibiotics [106]. The PCT-guided protocols led to a reduction in the defined side effects of antibiotics from 22% to 16% and, surprisingly, mortality rates also decreased; conversely, in a recent trial involving patients with acute respiratory tract infections who were recruited before hospital admission, decreasing antibiotic treatment durations resulted in no apparent benefit. In this trial, the decision to admit patients to hospital (49.7% of those assessed) and the duration of treatment with antibiotics were both determined by PCT levels. One reason why reducing the duration of antibiotic therapy in the trial produced no clear benefit may be that serial measurements were only performed for half of the patients (i.e., those who were admitted to hospital). In addition, protocol adherence among patients who had PCT levels that were low enough to allow them to discontinue antibiotic treatment was only 30–45%. If the results of the PCT measurements do not lead to appropriate changes in treatment, the strategy will not be effective.

4.5. C-Reactive Protein

The role of C-reactive protein (CRP) as a biomarker for ARDS is currently quite unclear. Higher CRP was related to the severity of ARDS in 101 critically ill patients in an ICU setting [107], but in another cohort study, lower CRP predicted organ failure, the need for mechanical ventilation, and 60-day mortality in 177 patients with ARDS [108]. In a third cohort study, CRP could not predict severity of ARDS nor mortality [50]. Hence, the role for CRP as a biomarker for ARDS remains uncertain.

4.6. White Blood Cells

White blood cells (WBC) and especially neutrophils may also be proposed as possible biomarkers for lung injury; however, despite the vast abundance of patients with ARDS who must have had these factors tested daily over the last 50 years, published studies in this area are few. So far, studies have shown that neither WBC nor neutrophils predicted the severity or mortality in patients with ARDS [50]. Monocytes might predict ARDS based on a study of a cohort from the LIPS-A RCT [109], regulatory T-cells might be associated with ARDS [110], mononuclear cells in patients with ARDS might have a greater potential for colony formation [111], and a high neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio might predict mortality in critically ill patients with ARDS [112] (Table 2). Hence even the role of WBC as biomarkers for ARDS remains unenlightened.

5. Conclusions

The identification of definitive biomarkers capable of diagnosing ARDS, predicting prognoses, and monitoring responses to disease treatment would present new opportunities for progress in this research field. The discovery and validation of a biomarker or set of biomarkers would help identify ARDS patients, quantify the severity of lung injuries, and guide treatment strategies. Many potential biomarkers have been investigated, but a single biomarker that can reliably diagnose ARDS specifically has not yet been found. Since the pathophysiology of ARDS is complex and heterogeneous, current research suggests that combinations of biomarkers that reflect different aspects of ARDS (such as epithelial and endothelial injury, inflammation or infection) are more likely to be use in a clinical context. Indeed, the best approach will probably combine clinical predictors with several biomarkers as has been suggested and tested with varying degrees of success in quite a few studies by now, including cohorts based on several RCTs [8,9,10,65,92,113,114]. However, none of these candidates have been used clinically in patients with ARDS. Future studies should determine the potential for each candidate discussed here. This will lead to improved diagnoses and treatments strategies for patients with ARDS.

Author Contributions

Conceptualisation: P.S. and J.-U.J.; Methodology, P.S., B.B. and J.-U.J.; Software, P.S. and J.-U.J.; Validation, P.S., B.B. and J.-U.J.; Formal Analysis, P.S., B.B. and J.-U.J.; Investigation, P.S., B.B. and J.-U.J.; Resources, P.S. and J.-U.J.; Data Curation, P.S. and J.-U.J.; Writing—Original Draft Preparation, P.S. and J.-U.J.; Writing—Review and Editing, P.S., B.B. and J.-U.J.; Visualization, P.S.; Supervision, J.-U.J.; Project Administration, J.-U.J.; Funding Acquisition, P.S. and J.-U.J. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This study was funded by the Danish Regions Medical Fund (grant no. 5894/16) and the Danish Council for Independent Research (grant no. 6110-00268B). The research salary of PS was sponsored by Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen.

Institutional Review Board Statement

Not applicable.

Data Availability Statement

No new data were created or analyzed in this study. Data sharing is not applicable to this article.

Conflicts of Interest

All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, describing any conflicts of interest. None of the authors have any conflicts of interest that are directly related to this work.

References

  1. Fan, E.; Brodie, D.; Slutsky, A.S. Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: Advances in Diagnosis and Treatment. JAMA 2018, 319, 698–710. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  2. Han, S.; Mallampalli, R.K. The acute respiratory distress syndrome: From mechanism to translation. J. Immunol. 2015, 194, 855–860. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  3. Force, A.D.T.; Ranieri, V.M.; Rubenfeld, G.D.; Thompson, B.T.; Ferguson, N.D.; Caldwell, E. Acute respiratory distress syndrome: The Berlin Definition. JAMA 2012, 307, 2526–2533. [Google Scholar]
  4. Bellani, G.; Laffey, J.G.; Pham, T.; Fan, E.; Brochard, L.; Esteban, A.; Gattinoni, L.; Van Haren, F.; Larsson, A.; McAuley, D.F.; et al. Epidemiology, Patterns of Care, and Mortality for Patients With Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Intensive Care Units in 50 Countries. JAMA 2016, 315, 788–800. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  5. Crouch, E. Structure, biologic properties, and expression of surfactant protein D (SP-D). Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1998, 1408, 278–289. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  6. Eisner, M.D.; Parsons, P.; Matthay, M.A.; Ware, L.; Greene, K. Plasma surfactant protein levels and clinical outcomes in patients with acute lung injury. Thorax 2003, 58, 983–988. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  7. Determann, R.M.; Royakkers, A.A.N.M.; Haitsma, J.J.; Zhang, H.; Slutsky, M.A.S.; Ranieri, V.M.; Schultz, M.J. Plasma levels of surfactant protein D and KL-6 for evaluation of lung injury in critically ill mechanically ventilated patients. BMC Pulm. Med. 2010, 10, 6. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  8. Ware, L.B.; Koyama, T.; Billheimer, D.D.; Wu, W.; Bernard, G.R.; Thompson, B.T.; Brower, R.G.; Standiford, T.J.; Martin, T.R.; Matthay, M.A. Prognostic and Pathogenetic Value of Combining Clinical and Biochemical Indices in Patients With Acute Lung Injury. Chest 2010, 137, 288–296. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  9. Calfee, C.S.; Ware, L.B.; Glidden, D.V.; Eisner, M.D.; Parsons, P.E.; Thompson, B.T.; Matthay, M.A. Use of risk reclassification with multiple biomarkers improves mortality prediction in acute lung injury. Crit. Care Med. 2011, 39, 711–717. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  10. Zhao, Z.; Wickersham, N.; Kangelaris, K.N.; May, A.K.; Bernard, G.R.; Matthay, M.A.; Calfee, C.S.; Koyama, T.; Ware, L.B. External validation of a biomarker and clinical prediction model for hospital mortality in acute respiratory distress syndrome. Intensive Care Med. 2017, 43, 1123–1131. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  11. Park, J.; Pabón, M.A.; Choi, A.M.K.; Siembos, I.; Fredenburgh, L.E.; Baron, R.M.; Jeon, K.; Chung, C.R.; Yang, J.H.; Park, C.-M.; et al. Plasma surfactant protein-D as a diagnostic biomarker for acute respiratory distress syndrome: Validation in US and Korean cohorts. BMC Pulm. Med. 2017, 17, 204. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  12. Ware, L.B.; Koyama, T.; Zhao, Z.; Janz, D.R.; Wickersham, N.; Bernard, G.R.; May, A.K.; Calfee, C.S.; Matthay, M.A. Biomarkers of lung epithelial injury and inflammation distinguish severe sepsis patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Crit. Care 2013, 17, R253. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  13. Fujiwara, Y.; Kiura, K.; Toyooka, S.; Hotta, K.; Tabata, M.; Takigawa, N.; Soh, J.; Tanimoto, Y.; Kanehiro, A.; Kato, K.; et al. Elevated serum level of sialylated glycoprotein KL-6 predicts a poor prognosis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated with gefitinib. Lung Cancer 2008, 59, 81–87. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  14. Ishikawa, N.; Hattori, N.; Yokoyama, A.; Tanaka, S.; Nishino, R.; Yoshioka, K.; Ohshimo, S.; Fujitaka, K.; Ohnishi, H.; Hamada, H.; et al. Usefulness of monitoring the circulating Krebs von den Lungen-6 levels to predict the clinical outcome of patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer treated with epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Int. J. Cancer 2008, 122, 2612–2620. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  15. Tomita, M.; Ayabe, T.; Chosa, E.; Nose, N.; Nakamura, K. Prognostic significance of preoperative serum Krebs von den Lungen-6 level in non-small cell lung cancer. Gen. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. 2016, 64, 657–661. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  16. Tomita, M.; Ayabe, T.; Chosa, E.; Nose, N.; Nakamura, K. Prognostic Significance of a Tumor Marker Index Based on Preoperative Serum Carcinoembryonic Antigen and Krebs von den Lungen-6 Levels in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Asian Pac. J. Cancer Prev. 2017, 18, 287–291. [Google Scholar]
  17. Collard, H.R.; Calfee, C.S.; Wolters, P.J.; Song, J.W.; Hong, S.-B.; Brady, S.; Ishizaka, A.; Jones, K.D.; King, T.E.; Matthay, M.A.; et al. Plasma biomarker profiles in acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Am. J. Physiol. Cell. Mol. Physiol. 2010, 299, L3–L7. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  18. Aihara, K.; Oga, T.; Harada, Y.; Chihara, Y.; Handa, T.; Tanizawa, K.; Watanabe, K.; Tsuboi, T.; Hitomi, T.; Mishima, M.; et al. Comparison of biomarkers of subclinical lung injury in obstructive sleep apnea. Respir. Med. 2011, 105, 939–945. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  19. Lederer, D.J.; Jelic, S.; Basner, R.C.; Ishizaka, A.; Bhattacharya, J. Circulating KL-6, a biomarker of lung injury, in obstructive sleep apnoea. Eur. Respir. J. 2009, 33, 793–796. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  20. Ishizaka, A.; Matsuda, T.; Albertine, K.H.; Koh, H.; Tasaka, S.; Hasegawa, N.; Kohno, N.; Kotani, T.; Morisaki, H.; Takeda, J.; et al. Elevation of KL-6, a lung epithelial cell marker, in plasma and epithelial lining fluid in acute respiratory distress syndrome. Am. J. Physiol. Cell. Mol. Physiol. 2004, 286, L1088–L1094. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  21. Nathani, N.; Perkins, G.; Tunnicliffe, W.; Murphy, N.; Manji, M.; Thickett, D.R. Kerbs von Lungren 6 antigen is a marker of alveolar inflammation but not of infection in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Crit. Care 2008, 12, R12. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  22. Koyama, K.; Katayama, S.; Tonai, K.; Shima, J.; Koinuma, T.; Nunomiya, S. Biomarker profiles of coagulopathy and alveolar epithelial injury in acute respiratory distress syndrome with idiopathic/immune-related disease or common direct risk factors. Crit. Care 2019, 23, 283. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  23. Yeh, L.-C.; Huang, P.-W.; Hsieh, K.-H.; Wang, C.-H.; Kao, Y.-K.; Lin, T.-H.; Lee, X.-L. Elevated Plasma Levels of Gas6 Are Associated with Acute Lung Injury in Patients with Severe Sepsis. Tohoku J. Exp. Med. 2017, 243, 187–193. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  24. Agrawal, A.; Matthay, M.A.; Kangelaris, K.N.; Stein, J.; Chu, J.C.; Imp, B.M.; Cortez, A.; Abbott, J.; Liu, K.D.; Calfee, C.S. Plasma Angiopoietin-2 Predicts the Onset of Acute Lung Injury in Critically Ill Patients. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 2013, 187, 736–742. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  25. Jabaudon, M.; Berthelin, P.; Pranal, T.; Roszyk, L.; Godet, T.; Faure, J.-S.; Chabanne, R.; Eisenmann, N.; Lautrette, A.; Belville, C.; et al. Receptor for advanced glycation end-products and ARDS prediction: A multicentre observational study. Sci. Rep. 2018, 8, 2603. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  26. Jabaudon, M.; Blondonnet, R.; Pereira, B.; Cartin-Ceba, R.; Lichtenstern, C.; Mauri, T.; Determann, R.M.; Drabek, T.; Hubmayr, R.D.; Gajic, O.; et al. Plasma sRAGE is independently associated with increased mortality in ARDS: A meta-analysis of individual patient data. Intensive Care Med. 2018, 44, 1388–1399. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  27. Calfee, C.S.; Ware, L.B.; Eisner, M.D.; Parsons, P.E.; Thompson, B.T.; Wickersham, N.; Matthay, M.A.; Network, T.N.A. Plasma receptor for advanced glycation end products and clinical outcomes in acute lung injury. Thorax 2008, 63, 1083–1089. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  28. Brodska, H.; Malickova, K.; Valenta, J.; Fabio, A.; Drabek, T. Soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products predicts 28-day mortality in critically ill patients with sepsis. Scand. J. Clin. Lab. Investig. 2013, 73, 650–660. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  29. Mauri, T.; Masson, S.; Pradella, A.; Bellani, G.; Coppadoro, A.; Bombino, M.; Valentino, S.; Patroniti, N.; Mantovani, A.; Pesenti, A.; et al. Elevated Plasma and Alveolar Levels of Soluble Receptor for Advanced Glycation Endproducts Are Associated with Severity of Lung Dysfunction in ARDS Patients. Tohoku J. Exp. Med. 2010, 222, 105–112. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  30. Cartin-Ceba, R.; Hubmayr, R.D.; Qin, R.; Peters, S.; Determann, R.M.; Schultz, M.J.; Gajic, O.O. Predictive value of plasma biomarkers for mortality and organ failure development in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. J. Crit. Care 2015, 30, 219.e1–219.e7. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  31. Mrozek, S.; Jabaudon, M.; Jaber, S.; Paugam-Burtz, C.; Lefrant, J.Y.; Rouby, J.J.; Asehnoune, K.; Allaouchiche, B.; Baldesi, O.; Leone, M.; et al. Elevated Plasma Levels of sRAGE Are Associated With Nonfocal CT-Based Lung Imaging in Patients With ARDS: A Prospective Multicenter Study. Chest 2016, 150, 998–1007. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  32. Jabaudon, M.; Futier, E.; Roszyk, L.; Chalus, E.; Guérin, R.; Petit, A.; Mrozek, S.; Perbet, S.; Cayot-Constantin, S.; Chartier, C.; et al. Soluble form of the receptor for advanced glycation end products is a marker of acute lung injury but not of severe sepsis in critically ill patients*. Crit. Care Med. 2011, 39, 480–488. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  33. Jabaudon, M.; Blondonnet, R.; Roszyk, L.; Pereira, B.; Guérin, R.; Perbet, S.; Cayot, S.; Bouvier, D.; Blanchon, L.; Sapin, V.; et al. Soluble Forms and Ligands of the Receptor for Advanced Glycation End-Products in Patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: An Observational Prospective Study. PLoS ONE 2015, 10, e0135857. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  34. Levy, B.; Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Network; Brower, R.G.; Matthay, M.A.; Morris, A.; Schoenfeld, D.; Thompson, B.T.; Wheeler, A. Faculty Opinions recommendation of Ventilation with lower tidal volumes as compared with traditional tidal volumes for acute lung injury and the acute respiratory distress syndrome. Fac. Opin. Post Publ. Peer Rev. Biomed. Lit. 2016, 342, 1301–1308. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  35. Spadaro, S.; Park, M.; Turrini, C.; Tunstall, T.; Thwaites, R.S.; Mauri, T.; Ragazzi, R.; Ruggeri, P.; Hansel, T.T.; Caramori, G.; et al. Biomarkers for Acute Respiratory Distress syndrome and prospects for personalised medicine. J. Inflamm. 2019, 16, 1–11. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  36. Kwiatkowski, D.J.; Mehl, R.; Izumo, S.; Nadal-Ginard, B.; Yin, H.L. Muscle is the major source of plasma gelsolin. J. Biol. Chem. 1988, 263, 8239–8243. [Google Scholar]
  37. Holm, F.S.; Sivapalan, P.; Seersholm, N.; Itenov, T.S.; Christensen, P.H.; Jensen, J.S. Acute Lung Injury in Critically Ill Patients: Actin-Scavenger Gelsolin Signals Prolonged Respiratory Failure. Shock 2019, 52, 370–377. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  38. Hou, P.C.; Filbin, M.R.; Wang, H.; Ngo, L.; Huang, D.T.; Aird, W.C.; Yealy, D.M.; Angus, D.C.; Kellum, J.A.; Shapiro, N.I.; et al. Endothelial Permeability and Hemostasis in Septic Shock: Results From the ProCESS Trial. Chest 2017, 152, 22–31. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  39. Sapru, A.; Network, T.N.A.; Calfee, C.S.; Liu, K.D.; Kangelaris, K.; Hansen, H.; Pawlikowska, L.; Ware, L.B.; Alkhouli, M.F.; Abbott, J.; et al. Plasma soluble thrombomodulin levels are associated with mortality in the acute respiratory distress syndrome. Intensive Care Med. 2015, 41, 470–478. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  40. Johansen, M.E.; Johansson, P.I.; Ostrowski, S.R.; Bestle, M.H.; Hein, L.; Jensen, A.L.; Søe-Jensen, P.; Andersen, M.H.; Steensen, M.; Mohr, T.; et al. Profound endothelial damage predicts impending organ failure and death in sepsis. Semin. Thromb. Hemost. 2015, 41, 16–25. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  41. Agrawal, A.; Zhuo, H.; Brady, S.; Levitt, J.; Steingrub, J.; Siegel, M.D.; Soto, G.; Peterson, M.W.; Chesnutt, M.S.; Matthay, M.A.; et al. Pathogenetic and predictive value of biomarkers in patients with ALI and lower severity of illness: Results from two clinical trials. Am. J. Physiol. Cell. Mol. Physiol. 2012, 303, L634–L639. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  42. McClintock, D.; Zhuo, H.; Wickersham, N.; Matthay, M.A.; Ware, L.B. Biomarkers of inflammation, coagulation and fibrinolysis predict mortality in acute lung injury. Crit. Care 2008, 12, R41. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  43. Shorr, A.F.; Nelson, D.R.; Wyncoll, D.; Reinhart, K.; Brunkhorst, F.M.; Vail, G.M.; Janes, J.M. Protein C: A potential biomarker in severe sepsis and a possible tool for monitoring treatment with drotrecogin alfa (activated). Crit. Care 2008, 12, R45. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  44. Fang, Y.; Li, C.; Shao, R.; Yu, H.; Zhang, Q.; Zhao, L. Prognostic significance of the angiopoietin-2/angiopoietin-1 and angiopoietin-1/Tie-2 ratios for early sepsis in an emergency department. Crit Care 2015, 19, 367. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  45. Tsangaris, I.; Tsantes, A.; Vrigkou, E.; Kopterides, P.; Pelekanou, A.; Zerva, K.; Antonakos, G.; Konstantonis, D.; Mavrou, I.; Tsaknis, G.; et al. Angiopoietin-2 Levels as Predictors of Outcome in Mechanically Ventilated Patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Dis. Markers 2017, 2017, 6758721. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  46. Ying, J.; Zhou, D.; Gu, T.; Huang, J. Endocan, a Risk Factor for Developing Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome among Severe Pneumonia Patients. Can. Respir. J. 2019, 2019, 2476845. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  47. Gaudet, A.; Parmentier, E.; Dubucquoi, S.; Poissy, J.; Duburcq, T.; Lassalle, P.; Caires, N.D.F.; Mathieu, D. Low endocan levels are predictive of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in severe sepsis and septic shock. J. Crit. Care 2018, 47, 121–126. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  48. Mikkelsen, M.E.; Shah, C.V.; Scherpereel, A.; Lanken, P.N.; Lassalle, P.; Bellamy, S.L.; Localio, A.R.; Albelda, S.M.; Meyer, N.J.; Christie, J.D. Lower serum endocan levels are associated with the development of acute lung injury after major trauma. J. Crit Care 2012, 27, 522.e11–522.e17. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  49. Orbegozo, D.; Rahmania, L.L.; Irazabal, M.M.; Mendoza, M.M.; Annoni, F.; De Backer, D.; Creteur, J.; Vincent, J.-L. Endocan as an early biomarker of severity in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Ann. Intensive Care 2017, 7, 1–8. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  50. Tang, L.; Zhao, Y.; Wang, D.; Deng, W.; Li, C.; Li, Q.; Huang, S.; Shu, C. Endocan Levels in Peripheral Blood Predict Outcomes of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Mediat. Inflamm. 2014, 2014, 625180. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  51. Mangat, M.; Amalakuhan, B.; Habib, S.; Reyes, L.F.; Hinojosa, C.A.; Rodriguez, A.H.; Soni, N.J.; Anzueto, A.; Levine, S.M.; Peters, J.I.; et al. High endocan levels are associated with the need for mechanical ventilation among patients with severe sepsis. Eur. Respir. J. 2017, 50, 1700013. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  52. Ioakeimidou, A.; Pagalou, E.; Kontogiorgi, M.; Antoniadou, E.; Kaziani, K.; Psaroulis, K.; Giamarellos-Bourboulis, E.J.; Prekates, A.; Antonakos, N.; Lassale, P.; et al. Increase of circulating endocan over sepsis follow-up is associated with progression into organ dysfunction. Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 2017, 36, 1749–1756. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  53. Wenzel, C.; Kofler, J.; Locker, G.J.; Laczika, K.; Quehenberger, P.; Frass, M.; Knöbl, P. Endothelial cell activation and blood coagulation in critically ill patients with lung injury. Wien. Klin. Wochenschr. 2002, 114, 853–858. [Google Scholar] [PubMed]
  54. Yadav, H.; Bartley, A.; Keating, S.M.; Meade, L.A.; Norris, P.J.; Carter, R.; Gajic, O.O.; Kor, D.J. Evolution of Validated Biomarkers and Intraoperative Parameters in the Development of Postoperative ARDS. Respir. Care 2018, 63, 1331–1340. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  55. Moalli, R.; Doyle, J.M.; Tahhan, H.R.; Hasan, F.M.; Braman, S.S.; Saldeen, T. Fibrinolysis in critically ill patients. Am. Rev. Respir Dis. 1989, 140, 287–293. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  56. El Solh, A.A.; Bhora, M.; Pineda, L.; Aquilina, A.; Abbetessa, L.; Berbary, E. Alveolar plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 predicts ARDS in aspiration pneumonitis. Intensive Care Med. 2006, 32, 110–115. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  57. Thurston, G.; Daly, C. The Complex Role of Angiopoietin-2 in the Angiopoietin-Tie Signaling Pathway. Cold Spring Harb. Perspect. Med. 2012, 2, a006650. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  58. Ware, L.B.; Zhao, Z.; Koyama, T.; Brown, R.M.; Semler, M.W.; Janz, D.R.; May, A.K.; Fremont, R.D.; Matthay, M.A.; Cohen, M.J.; et al. Derivation and validation of a two-biomarker panel for diagnosis of ARDS in patients with severe traumatic injuries. Trauma Surg. Acute Care Open 2017, 2, e000121. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  59. Asahara, H.; Ito, H.; Yamamoto, H.; Ohno, N.; Asahara, M.; Yamada, Y.; Yamaguchi, O.; Tomita, M.; Makita, K. Elevated Levels of Angiopoietin-2 as a Biomarker for Respiratory Failure After Cardiac Surgery. J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesthesia 2014, 28, 1293–1301. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  60. Van der Heijden, M.; Pickkers, P.; van Nieuw Amerongen, G.P.; van Hinsbergh, V.W.; Bouw, M.P.; van der Hoeven, J.G.; Groeneveld, A.J. Circulating angiopoietin-2 levels in the course of septic shock: Relation with fluid balance, pulmonary dysfunction and mortality. Intensive Care Med. 2009, 35, 1567–1574. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  61. Hoeboer, S.H.; Groeneveld, A.J.; Van Der Heijden, M.; Straaten, H.M.O.-V. Serial inflammatory biomarkers of the severity, course and outcome of late onset acute respiratory distress syndrome in critically ill patients with or at risk for the syndrome after new-onset fever. Biomark. Med. 2015, 9, 605–616. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  62. Bime, C.; Casanova, N.; Oita, R.C.; Ndukum, J.; Lynn, H.; Camp, S.M.; Lussier, Y.; Abraham, I.; Carter, D.; Miller, E.J.; et al. Development of a biomarker mortality risk model in acute respiratory distress syndrome. Crit. Care 2019, 23, 1–8. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  63. Gallagher, D.C.; Parikh, S.M.; Balonov, K.; Miller, A.; Gautam, S.; Talmor, D.; Sukhatme, V.P. Circulating angiopoietin 2 correlates with mortality in a surgical population with acute lung injury/adult respiratory distress syndrome. Shock 2007, 29, 656–661. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  64. Ma, S.; Zhao, M.-L.; Wang, K.; Yue, Y.-F.; Sun, R.-Q.; Zhang, R.-M.; Wang, S.-F.; Sun, G.; Xie, H.-Q.; Yu, Y.; et al. Association of Ang-2, vWF, and EVLWI with risk of mortality in sepsis patients with concomitant ARDS: A retrospective study. J. Formos. Med. Assoc. 2020, 119, 950–956. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  65. Liu, X.-W.; Ma, T.; Cai, Q.; Wang, L.; Song, H.-W.; Liu, Z. Elevation of Serum PARK7 and IL-8 Levels Is Associated With Acute Lung Injury in Patients With Severe Sepsis/Septic Shock. J. Intensive Care Med. 2017, 34, 662–668. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  66. Ware, L.B.; Eisner, M.D.; Thompson, B.T.; Parsons, P.E.; Matthay, M.A. Significance of Von Willebrand Factor in Septic and Nonseptic Patients with Acute Lung Injury. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 2004, 170, 766–772. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  67. Singh, D.; Kolsum, U.; Brightling, C.E.; Locantore, N.; Agusti, A.; Tal-Singer, R. Eosinophilic inflammation in COPD: Prevalence and clinical characteristics. Eur. Respir. J. 2014, 44, 1697–1700. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  68. Tashkin, D.P.; E Wechsler, M. Role of eosinophils in airway inflammation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Int. J. Chronic Obstr. Pulm. Dis. 2018, 13, 335–349. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  69. Barnes, P.J. Inflammatory endotypes in COPD. Allergy 2019, 74, 1249–1256. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  70. Pascoe, S.; Locantore, N.; Dransfield, M.T.; Barnes, N.C.; Pavord, I.D. Blood eosinophil counts, exacerbations, and response to the addition of inhaled fluticasone furoate to vilanterol in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A secondary analysis of data from two parallel randomised controlled trials. Lancet Respir. Med. 2015, 3, 435–442. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  71. Vedel-Krogh, S.; Nielsen, S.F.; Lange, P.; Vestbo, J.; Nordestgaard, B.G. Blood Eosinophils and Exacerbations in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. The Copenhagen General Population Study. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 2016, 193, 965–974. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  72. Couillard, S.; Larivée, P.; Courteau, J.; Vanasse, A. Eosinophils in COPD Exacerbations Are Associated With Increased Readmissions. Chest 2017, 151, 366–373. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  73. Zeiger, R.; Tran, T.N.; Butler, R.K.; Schatz, M.; Li, Q.; Khatry, D.B.; Martin, U.; Kawatkar, A.A.; Chen, W. Relationship of Blood Eosinophil Count to Exacerbations in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. Pract. 2018, 6, 944–954.e5. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  74. Yun, J.H.; Lamb, A.; Chase, R.; Singh, D.; Parker, M.M.; Saferali, A.; Vestbo, J.; Tal-Singer, R.; Castaldi, P.J.; Silverman, E.K.; et al. Blood eosinophil count thresholds and exacerbations in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 2018, 141, 2037–2047. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  75. Russell, R.E.K.; Bafadhel, M. Investigating blood eosinophil count thresholds in patients with COPD. Lancet Respir. Med. 2018, 6, 823–824. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  76. Vogelmeier, C.F.; Criner, G.J.; Martinez, F.J.; Anzueto, A.; Barnes, P.J.; Bourbeau, J.; Celli, B.R.; Chen, R.; Decramer, M.; Fabbri, L.M.; et al. Global Strategy for the Diagnosis, Management, and Prevention of Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease 2017 Report. GOLD Executive Summary. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 2017, 195, 557–582. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  77. Walters, J.A.E.; Tan, D.J.; White, C.J.; Gibson, P.G.; Wood-Baker, R.; Walters, E.H. Systemic corticosteroids for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Cochrane Database Syst. Rev. 2014, 2014, CD001288. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  78. Singh, D.; Agusti, A.; Anzueto, A.; Barnes, P.J.; Bourbeau, J.; Celli, B.; Criner, G.J.; Frith, P.; Halpin, D.M.G.; Han, M.; et al. Global Strategy for the Diagnosis, Management, and Prevention of Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease: The GOLD science committee report 2019. Eur. Respir. J. 2019, 53, 1900164. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  79. Sivapalan, P.; Ingebrigtsen, T.S.; Rasmussen, D.B.; Sørensen, R.; Rasmussen, C.M.; Jensen, C.B.; Allin, K.H.; Eklöf, J.; Seersholm, N.; Vestbo, J.; et al. COPD exacerbations: The impact of long versus short courses of oral corticosteroids on mortality and pneumonia: Nationwide data on 67 000 patients with COPD followed for 12 months. BMJ Open Respir. Res. 2019, 6, e000407. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  80. Waljee, A.K.; Rogers, M.A.M.; Lin, P.; Singal, A.G.; Stein, J.D.; Marks, R.M.; Ayanian, J.Z.; Nallamothu, B.K. Short term use of oral corticosteroids and related harms among adults in the United States: Population based cohort study. BMJ 2017, 357, j1415. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  81. Walsh, L.J.; A Wong, C.; Oborne, J.; Cooper, S.; A Lewis, S.; Pringle, M.; Hubbard, R.; E Tattersfield, A. Adverse effects of oral corticosteroids in relation to dose in patients with lung disease. Thorax 2001, 56, 279–284. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  82. Bafadhel, M.; McKenna, S.; Terry, S.; Mistry, V.; Pancholi, M.; Venge, P.; Lomas, D.A.; Barer, M.R.; Johnston, S.L.; Pavord, I.D.; et al. Blood eosinophils to direct corticosteroid treatment of exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A randomized placebo-controlled trial. Am. J. Respir Crit Care Med. 2012, 186, 48–55. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  83. Serafino-Agrusa, L.; Scichilone, N.; Spatafora, M.; Battaglia, S. Blood eosinophils and treatment response in hospitalized exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A case-control study. Pulm. Pharmacol. Ther. 2016, 37, 89–94. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  84. Duman, D.; Aksoy, E.; Karakurt, Z.; Agca, M.C.; Kocak, N.D.; Ozmen, I.; Akturk, U.A.; Gungor, S.; Tepetam, F.M.; Eroglu, S.; et al. The utility of inflammatory markers to predict readmissions and mortality in COPD cases with or without eosinophilia [Corrigendum]. Int. J. Chronic Obstr. Pulm. Dis. 2016, 11, 417–418. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  85. Bafadhel, M.; Greening, N.J.; Harvey-Dunstan, T.C.; E A Williams, J.; Morgan, M.D.; Brightling, C.E.; Hussain, S.F.; Pavord, I.D.; Singh, S.; Steiner, M.C. Blood Eosinophils and Outcomes in Severe Hospitalized Exacerbations of COPD. Chest 2016, 150, 320–328. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  86. Sivapalan, P.; Lapperre, T.S.; Janner, J.; Laub, R.R.; Moberg, M.; Bech, C.S.; Eklöf, J.; Holm, F.S.; Armbruster, K.; Sivapalan, P.; et al. Eosinophil-guided corticosteroid therapy in patients admitted to hospital with COPD exacerbation (CORTICO-COP): A multicentre, randomised, controlled, open-label, non-inferiority trial. Lancet Respir. Med. 2019, 7, 699–709. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  87. Bauer, T.T.; Montón, C.; Torres, A.; Cabello, H.; Fillela, X.; Maldonado, A.; Nicolás, J.-M.; Zavala, E. Comparison of systemic cytokine levels in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome, severe pneumonia, and controls. Thorax 2000, 55, 46–52. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  88. Headley, A.S.; Meduri, G.U.; Tolley, E. Infections and the Inflammatory Response in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Chest 1997, 111, 1306–1321. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  89. Pinto-Plata, V.M.; Casanova, C.; Müllerová, H.; De-Torres, J.P.; Corado, H.; Varo, N.; Córdoba-Lanús, E.; Zeineldine, S.; Paz, H.; Baz, R.; et al. Inflammatory and repair serum biomarker pattern. Association to clinical outcomes in COPD. Respir. Res. 2012, 13, 71. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  90. Takala, A.; Jousela, I.; Takkunen, O.; Kautiainen, H.; Jansson, S.-E.; Orpana, A.; Karonen, S.-L.; Repo, H. A Prospective Study of Inflammation Markers in Patients at Risk of Indirect Acute Lung Injury. Shock 2002, 17, 252–257. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  91. Chen, C.; Shi, L.; Li, Y.; Wang, X.; Yang, S. Disease-specific dynamic biomarkers selected by integrating inflammatory mediators with clinical informatics in ARDS patients with severe pneumonia. Cell Biol. Toxicol. 2016, 32, 169–184. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  92. Fremont, R.D.; Koyama, T.; Calfee, C.S.; Wu, W.; Dossett, L.A.; Bossert, F.R.; Mitchell, D.; Wickersham, N.; Bernard, G.R.; Matthay, M.A.; et al. Acute Lung Injury in Patients With Traumatic Injuries: Utility of a Panel of Biomarkers for Diagnosis and Pathogenesis. J. Trauma 2010, 68, 1121–1127. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  93. Swaroopa, D.; Bhaskar, K.; Mahathi, T.; Katkam, S.; Raju, Y.S.; Chandra, N.; Kutala, V.K. Association of serum interleukin-6, interleukin-8, and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score with clinical outcome in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Indian J. Crit. Care Med. 2016, 20, 518–525. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  94. Amat, M.; Barcons, M.; Mancebo, J.; Mateo, J.; Oliver, A.; Mayoral, J.-F.; Boj, J.F.; Vila, L. Evolution of leukotriene B4, peptide leukotrienes, and interleukin-8 plasma concentrations in patients at risk of acute respiratory distress syndrome and with acute respiratory distress syndrome: Mortality prognostic study. Crit. Care Med. 2000, 28, 57–62. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  95. Donnelly, S.C.; Strieter, R.M.; Reid, P.T.; Kunkel, S.L.; Burdick, M.D.; Armstrong, I.; MacKenzie, A.; Haslett, C. The Association between Mortality Rates and Decreased Concentrations of Interleukin-10 and Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist in the Lung Fluids of Patients with the Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Ann. Intern. Med. 1996, 125, 191. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  96. Parsons, P.E.; Eisner, M.D.; Thompson, B.T.; Matthay, M.A.; Ancukiewicz, M.; Bernard, G.R.; Wheeler, A.P. Lower tidal volume ventilation and plasma cytokine markers of inflammation in patients with acute lung injury*. Crit. Care Med. 2005, 33, 1–6. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  97. Samanta, J.; Singh, S.; Arora, S.; Muktesh, G.; Aggarwal, A.; Dhaka, N.; Sinha, S.K.; Gupta, V.; Sharma, V.; Kochhar, R. Cytokine profile in prediction of acute lung injury in patients with acute pancreatitis. Pancreatology 2018, 18, 878–884. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  98. Jensen, J.U.; Lundgren, B.; Hein, L.; Mohr, T.; Petersen, P.L.; Andersen, L.H.; Lauritsen, A.Ø.; Hougaard, S.; Mantoni, T.; Bømler, B.; et al. The Procalcitonin And Survival Study (PASS)—A randomised multi-center investigator-initiated trial to investigate whether daily measurements biomarker Procalcitonin and pro-active diagnostic and therapeutic responses to abnormal Procalcitonin levels, can improve survival in intensive care unit patients. Calculated sample size (target population): 1000 patients. BMC Infect. Dis. 2008, 8, 91. [Google Scholar]
  99. Jensen, J.U.S.; Hein, L.; Lundgren, B.; Bestle, M.H.; Mohr, T.; Andersen, M.H.; Thornberg, K.; Løken, J.; Steensen, M.; Fox, Z.; et al. Procalcitonin-guided interventions against infections to increase early appropriate antibiotics and improve survival in the intensive care unit: A randomized trial*. Crit. Care Med. 2011, 39, 2048–2058. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  100. Jensen, J.-U.S.; Hein, L.; Lundgren, B.; Bestle, M.H.; Mohr, T.; Andersen, M.H.; Thornberg, K.J.; Løken, J.; Steensen, M.; Fox, Z.; et al. Kidney failure related to broad-spectrum antibiotics in critically ill patients: Secondary end point results from a 1200 patient randomised trial. BMJ Open 2012, 2, e000635. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  101. Jensen, J.U.; Hein, L.; Lundgren, B.; Bestle, M.H.; Mohr, T.; Andersen, M.H.; Løken, J.; Tousi, H.; Søe-Jensen, P.; Lauritsen, A.Ø.; et al. Invasive Candida infections and the harm from antibacterial drugs in critically ill patients: Data from a randomized, controlled trial to determine the role of ciprofloxacin, piperacillin-tazobactam, meropenem, and cefuroxime. Crit Care Med. 2015, 43, 594–602. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  102. Johansen, M.E.; Jensen, J.-U.; Bestle, M.H.; Hein, L.; Lauritsen, A.Ø.; Tousi, H.; Larsen, K.M.; Løken, J.; Mohr, T.; Thormar, K.; et al. The Potential of Antimicrobials to Induce Thrombocytopenia in Critically Ill Patients: Data from a Randomized Controlled Trial. PLoS ONE 2013, 8, e81477. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  103. Corti, C.; Fally, M.; Fabricius-Bjerre, A.; Mortensen, K.; Jensen, B.N.; Andreassen, H.F.; Porsbjerg, C.; Knudsen, J.D.; Jensen, J.-U. Point-of-care procalcitonin test to reduce antibiotic exposure in patients hospitalized with acute exacerbation of COPD. Int. J. Chronic Obstr. Pulm. Dis. 2016, 11, 1381–1389. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  104. A Meier, M.; Branche, A.; Neeser, O.L.; Wirz, Y.; Haubitz, S.; Bouadma, L.; Wolff, M.; E Luyt, C.; Chastre, J.; Tubach, F.; et al. Procalcitonin-guided Antibiotic Treatment in Patients With Positive Blood Cultures: A Patient-level Meta-analysis of Randomized Trials. Clin. Infect. Dis. 2018, 69, 388–396. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  105. De Jong, E.; van Oers, J.A.; Beishuizen, A.; Vos, P.; Vermeijden, W.J.; Haas, L.E.; Loef, B.G.; Dormans, T.; van Melsen, G.C.; Kluiters, Y.C.; et al. Efficacy and safety of procalcitonin guidance in reducing the duration of antibiotic treatment in critically ill patients: A randomised, controlled, open-label trial. Lancet Infect. Dis. 2016, 16, 819–827. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  106. Schuetz, P.; Wirz, Y.; Sager, R.; Christ-Crain, M.; Stolz, D.; Tamm, M.; Bouadma, L.; E Luyt, C.; Wolff, M.; Chastre, J.; et al. Effect of procalcitonin-guided antibiotic treatment on mortality in acute respiratory infections: A patient level meta-analysis. Lancet Infect. Dis. 2018, 18, 95–107. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  107. Hoeboer, S.H.; Straaten, H.M.O.-V.; Groeneveld, A.B.J. Albumin rather than C-reactive protein may be valuable in predicting and monitoring the severity and course of acute respiratory distress syndrome in critically ill patients with or at risk for the syndrome after new onset fever. BMC Pulm. Med. 2015, 15, 1–13. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  108. Bajwa, E.K.; Khan, U.A.; Januzzi, J.L.; Gong, M.N.; Thompson, B.T.; Christiani, D.C. Plasma C-Reactive Protein Levels Are Associated With Improved Outcome in ARDS. Chest 2009, 136, 471–480. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  109. Abdulnour, R.-E.E.; Gunderson, T.; Barkas, I.; Timmons, J.Y.; Barnig, C.; Gong, M.; Kor, D.J.; Gajic, O.O.; Talmor, D.; Carter, R.; et al. Early Intravascular Events Are Associated with Development of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. A Substudy of the LIPS-A Clinical Trial. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 2018, 197, 1575–1585. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  110. Song, H.; Zhou, Y.; Li, G.; Bai, J. Regulatory T Cells Contribute to the Recovery of Acute Lung Injury by Upregulating Tim-3. Inflammation 2014, 38, 1267–1272. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  111. Burnham, E.L.; Mealer, M.; Gaydos, J.; Majka, S.; Moss, M. Acute Lung Injury but Not Sepsis Is Associated with Increased Colony Formation by Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells. Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol. 2010, 43, 326–333. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  112. Li, W.; Ai, X.; Ni, Y.; Ye, Z.; Liang, Z. The Association Between the Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and Mortality in Patients With Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Shock 2019, 51, 161–167. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  113. Ding, X.; Li, J.-B.; Liang, H.; Wang, Z.-Y.; Jiao, T.-T.; Liu, Z.; Yi, L.; Bian, W.-S.; Wang, S.; Zhu, X.; et al. Predictive model for acute respiratory distress syndrome events in ICU patients in China using machine learning algorithms: A secondary analysis of a cohort study. J. Transl. Med. 2019, 17, 1–10. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  114. Sinha, P.; Delucchi, K.L.; McAuley, D.F.; O’Kane, C.M.; Matthay, M.A.; Calfee, C.S. Development and validation of parsimonious algorithms to classify acute respiratory distress syndrome phenotypes: A secondary analysis of randomised controlled trials. Lancet Respir. Med. 2020, 8, 247–257. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Figure 1. Biomarkers of acute respiratory distress syndrome organised in alveolar/bronchiolar damage, inflammatory response, coagulation, and endothelial damage.
Figure 1. Biomarkers of acute respiratory distress syndrome organised in alveolar/bronchiolar damage, inflammatory response, coagulation, and endothelial damage.
Ijms 22 00205 g001
Table 1. Berlin criteria for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) [3]. PEEP: positive end-expiratory pressure, PaO2: arterial oxygen tension, FiO2: inspiratory oxygen fraction, CT: computed tomography.
Table 1. Berlin criteria for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) [3]. PEEP: positive end-expiratory pressure, PaO2: arterial oxygen tension, FiO2: inspiratory oxygen fraction, CT: computed tomography.
BERLIN CRITERIA
TIMINGWithin 1 week of a known clinical insult or new or worsening respiratory symptoms
OXYGENATIONMild: PaO2/FiO2 > 200 mmHg but ≤ 300 mmHg
Moderate: PaO2/FiO2 > 100 mmHg but ≤ 200 mmHg
Severe: PaO2/FiO2 ≤ 100 mmHg
PEEP REQUIREMENTMinimum 5 cm H2O PEEP required by invasive mechanical ventilation (noninvasive acceptable for mild ARDS)
CHEST IMAGINGBilateral opacities not fully explained by effusions, lobar/lung collapse or nodules by chest radiograph or CT
ORIGIN OF OEDEMARespiratory failure not fully explained by cardiac failure or fluid overload (need objective assessment, such as echocardiography, to exclude hydrostatic oedema if no risk factor present)
Table 2. Biomarkers for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
Table 2. Biomarkers for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
Pathophysiological Entity for BiomarkerBiomarkerClinical Use Potential
Alveolar and bronchiolar damageSurfactant Protein D (SP-D)Diagnosis and risk stratification of lung diseasespecifically ARDS [11,12]
Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6)Indication of alveolar injury in ARDS patients and prognostic biomarker [13,14,15,16,20]
Endothelial DamageGelsolin, actin scavenging proteinPrediction of respiratory outcome in mechanically ventilated patients [37]
Syndecan-APrognosis for pre-existing respiratory failure [40]
Angiopoetin-2 (Ang-2)Prediction severity and mortality in ARDS [61,62]
Soluble FMS-like tyrosin kinase 1Prediction of mortality [38]
Soluble VEGF-receptorPrediction of mortality [38]
Von Willebrand factor (vWF)Prediction of mortality in some ARDS patients [66]
Thrombomodulin (TM)Possible indicator of mortality [39,40]
Prediction of severity and complications in ARDS patients [41]
Protein CPrediction of ARDS mortality [43,44]
EndocanUnclear [45,46,47,48,49,50,51,52]
Plasminogen activator inhibitor- 1 (PAI)Possible usefulness as biomarker in ARDS [30,41,42,53,54,55,56]
sRAGEPrediction of ARDS mortality [7,26]
Diagnosis of ARDS [12,25,35]
Treatment response
Lung inflammationBlood eosinophil countGuidance and reduction of corticosteroid treatment and prediction of response [83,84,85,86]
IL-1βPossible prediction of sepsis and mortality in ARDS [88]
IL-6Prediction of ARDS development, severity and mortality
[12,23,41,87,88,90,91]
IL-8Prediction of ARDS development [23,24,65,90]
Prediction of severity and mortality in patients with lung injury [62,88,93]
IL-10Unclear role in ARDS prediction [95,96,97]
TNF-αAssociated with ARDS [87,92]
Potential prediction of sepsis and mortality in ARDS [88]
Antibiotic reductionProcalcitonin (PCT)Reduction in use of antibiotics [106]
Lung infectionC-reactive protein (CRP)Possible role in predicting ARDS severity [107,108]
White blood cells (WBC)MonocytesRegulatory T-cellsNeutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratioNo prediction of severity or mortality in ARDS [50]
Prediction of ARDS [109]
Associated with ARDS [110]
Prediction of ARDS mortality [112]
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Sivapalan, P.; Bonnesen, B.; Jensen, J.-U. Novel Perspectives Regarding the Pathology, Inflammation, and Biomarkers of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22, 205. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22010205

AMA Style

Sivapalan P, Bonnesen B, Jensen J-U. Novel Perspectives Regarding the Pathology, Inflammation, and Biomarkers of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2021; 22(1):205. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22010205

Chicago/Turabian Style

Sivapalan, Pradeesh, Barbara Bonnesen, and Jens-Ulrik Jensen. 2021. "Novel Perspectives Regarding the Pathology, Inflammation, and Biomarkers of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome" International Journal of Molecular Sciences 22, no. 1: 205. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22010205

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop