Indomethacin treatment of human adult respiratory distress syndrome.

: The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the magnitude and duration of changes in lung function and oxygen transport in patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) receiving indomethacin. Ten patients with ARDS were randomized to receive intravenously either a single 50 mg dose of indomethacin or placebo. Comparing 1 hr postinfusion levels to baseline observations in the indomethacin group, PaO2 increased to 125 +/- 13 torr from 93 +/- 8 torr, PaO2/FIO2 ratio increased to 223 +/- 24 from 160 +/- 5, and Qs/Qt dropped to 0.20 +/- 0.03 from 0.27 +/- 0.03 (all P less than 0.05). These alterations in oxygenation gradually returned to baseline levels over the ensuing 8 hr. No such changes were noted in the placebo group.