Injury to the alveolar capillary membrane, a thin tissue barrier between the alveolar sacs of the lungs and pulmonary capillaries, can have serious consequences resulting in syndromes such as Acute Lung Injury (ALI) and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). ARDS is the more severe of the two, often resulting in multiple organ failure and fatality. The only medicinal treatments available for the treatment of ARDS at this time are anti-infectives, used for treating the pathogen infection, and agents which relieve pain or discomfort. Current treatments of ARDS typically involve mechanical ventilation performed in an intensive care unit, but this treatment can result in complications leading to significant morbidity in ALI and ARDS patient populations.
A University of Colorado research group led by John Repine has developed an improved method for treating subjects with alveolar capillary membrane injury (ACMI) by administering Ergothioneine, a naturally-occurring antioxidant found in bacteria, plants and animals. This compound can be administered prior to an incident resulting in ACMI, reducing the risk of such injury, or it can be administered after the subject has developed symptoms (such as shortness of breath or rapid breathing) of ACMI, reducing the severity and consequences of future syndromes. This treatment meets the needs of current problems by providing a safe, effective means of helping to either prevent or treat patients with alveolar capillary membrane injuries.
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