Prevention of the adult respiratory distress syndrome with dipyridamole

Because the formation of platelet thrombi has been incriminated in the development of the adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), we tested the hypothesis that early administration of antiplatelet agents might protect the lungs in patients at risk to develop ARDS after circulatory shock. This double-blinded study included 40 patients treated with either 3 mg/kg . 24 h of dipyridamole or a corresponding dose of placebo after an episode of hemorrhagic, traumatic, or septic shock. Each patient also received 100 mg of aspirin daily. Arterial blood gases and chest x-rays were not significantly different between dipyridamole and placebo groups. Moreover, two patients receiving dipyridamole but none receiving placebo developed ARDS. This pilot study does not support a beneficial effect of dipyridamole in the prevention of ARDS after circulatory shock.