Table 3 Acute lung injury features and measurements
Features | Relevant measurements |
|---|---|
Histological evidence of lung injury | Accumulation of neutrophils in the alveolar/interstitial space Formation of hyaline membranes Proteinaceous debris in alveolar space Proteinaceous debris in alveolar space Thickening of the alveolar wall Injury by a standardized histology score Evidence of hemorrhage Areas of atelectasis Gross macroscopic changes such as discoloration of the lungs |
Alteration of the alveolar capillary barrier | Increased extravascular lung water content Accumulation of protein/tracer in airspaces/extravascular space Total BAL protein concentration BAL concentration of high molecular weight proteins Vascular filtration coefficient Translocation of a protein from the airspaces into plasma Increased lung lymph flow, lymph protein concentration |
Inflammation | BAL total neutrophil counts Lung MPO activity Concentrations of cytokines and chemokines in lung tissue, in BAL fluid, and/or in plasma |
Physiological dysfunction | Hypoxemia Increased A-a oxygen difference |