Table 2 Respiratory and haemodynamic characteristics and mediators: mean differences or ratios between non-ALI, ALI and ARDS patients according to American-European consensus conference (AECC) criteria
ALI vs non-ALIARDS vs non-ALIARDS vs ALI
Respiratory and haemodynamic characteristics
Pplat (cm H2O)†0.77 (0.68 to 0.89), <0.0010.65 (0.57 to 0.76), <0.0010.84 (0.70 to 1.02), 0.081
PEEP (cm H2O)†0.77 (0.60 to 0.98), 0.035‡0.61 (0.52 to 0.73), <0.0010.80 (0.58 to 1.10), 0.167
Compliance (ml/cm H2O)†1.24 (1.07 to 1.42), 0.0041.31 (1.10 to 1.56), 0.0031.06 (0.87 to 1.30), 0.546
Tidal volume (ml/kg)*0.05 (−0.67 to 0.77), 0.8781.15 (0.13 to 2.18), 0.029‡1.10 (0.00 to 2.20), 0.051
Pao2 (mm Hg)†1.21 (1.11 to 1.32), <0.0011.62 (1.44 to 1.81), <0.0011.34 (1.20 to 1.48), <0.001
Fio2†0.90 (0.86 to 0.95), <0.0010.71 (0.66 to 0.75), <0.0010.78 (0.72 to 0.85), <0.001
Pao2/Fio2 (mm Hg)*99 (72 to 127), <0.001200 (170 to 229), <0.001100 (82 to 119), <0.001
LIS†0.45 (0.36 to 0.55), <0.0010.31 (0.25 to 0.39), <0.0010.70 (0.58 to 0.85), 0.001
PLI (×10−3/min)†0.91 (0.62 to 1.32), 0.6040.59 (0.39 to 0.89), 0.0130.65 (0.39 to 1.09), 0.102
EVLW (ml/kg)†0.86 (0.70 to 1.05), 0.1280.73 (0.49 to 1.09), 0.1170.85 (0.57 to 1.29), 0.434
Duration of mechanical ventilation (h)†0.24 (0.11 to 0.53), 0.0010.16 (0.08 to 0.31), <0.0010.65 (0.22 to 1.90), 0.423
Venous admixture†0.65 (0.54 to 0.79), <0.0010.41 (0.35 to 0.48), <0.0010.63 (0.52 to 0.77), <0.001
CVP (mm Hg)†0.67 (0.50 to 0.91), 0.0100.49 (0.38 to 0.62), <0.0010.72 (0.53 to 1.00), 0.048‡
Mediators
Ang-1 (ng/ml)†0.77 (0.29 to 2.06), 0.5982.28 (0.69 to 7.51), 0.1732.96 (0.79 to 11.10), 0.104
VEGF (pg/ml)†0.54 (0.21 to 1.41), 0.1970.41 (0.12 to 1.46), 0.1580.76 (0.26 to 2.20), 0.594
VWF (% of reference)*63 (26 to 100), 0.001110 (64 to 156), <0.00147 (−6 to 100), 0.080

  • Values shown as arithmetic mean differences*or geometric mean ratios† (95% confidence interval), p value.

  • ALI, acute lung injury; Ang, angiopoietin; ARDS, acute respiratory distress syndrome (according to AECC criteria); CVP, central venous pressure; EVLW, extravascular lung water; Fio2, inspiratory oxygen fraction; LIS, lung injury score; Pao2, arterial oxygen tension; PEEP, positive end-expiratory pressure; PLI, pulmonary leak index; Pplat, plateau pressure; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor; VWF, von Willebrand factor. ‡Rejected according to Bonferroni Holm method.