Sulforhodamine B and exogenous surfactant effects on alveolar surface tension under acute respiratory distress syndrome conditions

Abstract

In the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), lowering surface tension, T, should reduce ventilation injury, yet exogenous surfactant has not reduced mortality. We show with direct T determination in isolated lungs that substances suggested to elevate T in ARDS indeed raise T, and exogenous surfactant reduces T. Further, we extend our previous finding that sulforhodamine B (SRB) reduces T below normal in healthy lungs and show that SRB, too, reduces T under ARDS conditions.