Plasma protein levels are markers of pulmonary vascular permeability and degree of lung injury in critically ill patients with or at risk for acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome*

Abstract

In critically ill patients, decreased plasma albumin and transferrin levels parallel increased pulmonary vascular permeability irrespective of underlying disease and fluid status. While normal levels help to exclude acute respiratory distress syndrome, hypoalbuminemia and hypotransferrinemia increase the diagnostic accuracy of the American European Consensus Conference criteria and lung injury score for elevated pulmonary vascular permeability.