Increased microvascular permeability resulting in increased plasma protein extravasation is
the hallmark of acute inflammatory oedema and hence radiolabelled proteins can be used to
monitor this process. The adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is characterized by
acute inflammatory oedema and thus provides an ideal model for studying this type of
oedema in the human lung. A noninvasive technique applicable to the intensive care unit
has been developed for monitoring the pulmonary accumulation of the plasma protein …