Randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial of an aerosolized β₂-agonist for treatment of acute lung injury.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

β₂-Adrenergic receptor agonists accelerate resolution of pulmonary edema in experimental and clinical studies.

Objectives

This clinical trial was designed to test the hypothesis that an aerosolized β₂-agonist, albuterol, would improve clinical outcomes in patients with acute lung injury (ALI).

Methods

We conducted a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial in which 282 patients with ALI receiving mechanical ventilation were randomized to receive aerosolized albuterol (5 mg) or saline placebo every 4 hours for up to 10 days. The primary outcome variable for the trial was ventilator-free days.

Measurements and main results

Ventilator-free days were not significantly different between the albuterol and placebo groups (means of 14.4 and

SUBMITTER: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) Clinical Trials Network 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3175548 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature