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Thorax 2002;57:452-458 doi:10.1136/thorax.57.5.452
  • Review series

The pulmonary physician in critical care • 5: Acute lung injury and the acute respiratory distress syndrome: definitions and epidemiology

  1. K Atabai,
  2. M A Matthay
  1. Cardiovascular Research Institute and Departments of Medicine and Anesthesia, University of California, San Francisco, USA
  1. Correspondence to:
    Dr M A Matthay, Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, 505 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94143-0130, USA;
    mmatt{at}itsa.ucsf.edu

    Abstract

    An understanding of the epidemiology of ALI/ARDS and the effects of treatment have been hampered by the lack of a uniform definition of the syndrome. Various definitions have been proposed, and these are reviewed with particular attention to how changes in definition have affected our understanding of the natural history and treatment options for the condition.

    Footnotes

    • Supported in part by NIH HL51856.

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