Pulmonary endothelial cell injury and altered lung metabolic function. Early detection of the adult respiratory distress syndrome and possible functional significance.

Markers of endothelial cell damage or dysfunction may be sensitive probes for the detection of the earliest phases of acute lung injury and may be a guide to the severity of injury or response to therapy as well. Depressed lung metabolic function may contribute to the intrapulmonary or systemic pathophysiology of ARDS.