Soluble form of the receptor for advanced glycation end products is a marker of acute lung injury but not of severe sepsis in critically ill patients*

Abstract

sRAGE levels were elevated during acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome, regardless of the presence or absence of severe sepsis. The plasma level of sRAGE was correlated with clinical and radiographic severity in acute respiratory distress syndrome patients and decreased over time, suggesting resolution of the injury to the alveolar epithelium. Further study is warranted to test the clinical utility of this biomarker in managing such patients and to better understand its relationship with lung morphology during acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome.