A note on permeability aspect of ARDS

ARDS many times as a misnomer called 'permeability pulmonary edema' because this is the most striking, important and pathological feature of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). At the cellular level, the damage of alveolar-capillary membrane causes the leak of protein. One way to differentiate between cardiogenic and non-cardiogenic edema is the concentration of protein in the interstitium (established more than 35 years ago). In ARDS protein exceeds 60 percent of the plasma value, and in cardiogenic pulmonary edema, it is less than 45 percent.


Reference: 

 Fein A, Grossman RF, Jones JG, et al. The value of edema fluid protein measurement in patients with pulmonary edema. Am J Med 1979; 67:32.