Continuing Medical Education Article Use of corticosteroids in acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis*

Abstract

On completion of this article, the reader should be able to: 1. Explain outcomes of low dose corticosteroid use in acute lung injury. 2. Describe low dose corticosteroids regimens in acute lung injury. 3. Use this information in a clinical setting. The authors have disclosed that they have no financial relationships with or interests in any commercial companies pertaining to this educational activity. All faculty and staff in a position to control the content of this CME activity have disclosed that they have no financial relationship with, or financial interests in, any commercial companies pertaining to this educational activity. Lippincott CME Institute, Inc., has identified and resolved all faculty conflicts of interest regarding this educational activity. Visit the Critical Care Medicine Web site (www.ccmjournal.org) for information on obtaining continuing medical education credit. Objective: Controversy remains as to whether low-dose corticosteroids can reduce the mortality and morbidity of acute lung injury (ALI) or the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) without increasing the risk of adverse reactions. We aimed to evaluate all studies investigating prolonged corticosteroids in low-to-moderate dose in ALI or ARDS