Causes inhabituelles de syndrome de détresse respiratoire aiguë

The acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has been recognized as a cause of respiratory failure in patients with numerous illnesses. ARDS is characterized by pulmonary edema, profound hypoxemia, diffuse pulmonary infiltrates, and the absence of evidence of left heart dysfunction. Acute interstitial pneumonia, acute eosinophilic pneumonia, intra-alveolar pulmonary hemorrhage and hypersensitivity pneumonitis may mimic ARDS. These unusual causes of ARDS should be rapidly suspected in the absence of common causes, because the early initiation of corticosteroids may improve the prognosis. The initial diagnostic approach of those unusual causes of ARDS is based on a rigorous reasoning combining clinical, radiological and pathological data. Surgical pulmonary biopsy should be performed exceptionally.