ARDS is a disease process that is characterized by diffuse inflammation in the lung
parenchyma. The involvement of inflammatory mediators in ARDS has been the subject of
intense investigation, 1 2 and oxidant-mediated tissue injury is likely to be important in the
pathogenesis of ARDS. 3 In response to various inflammatory stimuli, lung endothelial cells,
alveolar cells, and airway epithelial cells, as well as activated alveolar macrophages,
produce both nitric oxide and superoxide, which may react to form peroxynitrite, which can …