Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS): the prophylactic effect of neurodepressant agents.

It has been suggested that acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is induced by a cybernetic imbalance of the central nervous system secondary to alarm reaction-provoked intravascular coagulation into cerebral microvessels. The brain metabolic and electrical resting state through the use of neurodepressant drugs might theoretically reduce the intensity and duration of the alarm reaction, thus diminishing the possibility of self-induced secondary brain lesions. In this work, Wistar rats were submitted to central (anterior hypothalamic electrolytic lesion) and peripheral (scald burn) trauma as effective models of reproducing an ARDS-like syndrome. Pretreatment of these animals with the following neurodepressant drugs: morphine, pentobarbital sodium, haloperidol, diazepam, chlorpromazine, and urethane, resulted in significant attenuation of the evolution of the ARDS-like syndrome, reinforcing the suggestion of a centrally-based origin of such pathologic manifestations.