[Pulmonary hypertension in adult respiratory distress syndrome: review of the literature].

This paper is a review of clinical and experimental studies on pulmonary hypertension in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and its consequences on the outcome of such syndrome. The most probable causes: hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, vasoconstriction provoked by vasoactive substances, extra and intraluminal occlusions are discussed. The authors also discuss the action of vasoactive drugs on the pulmonary circulation and on the pulmonary gas exchange.