LINOLEIC-ACID AND PROTEIN THIOL CHANGES SUGGESTIVE OF OXIDATIVE DAMAGE IN THE PLASMA OF PATIENTS WITH ADULT-RESPIRATORY-DISTRESS-SYNDROME

Patients with the acute lung injury syndrome ARDS are under oxidative stress from the disease and from treatment with high inspired oxygen c oncentrations. Oxidative stress can lead to molecular damage by a vari ety of reactive oxygen intermediates generated in the lung. In the pre sent study we sequentially monitor changes in plasma total lipid linol eic acid fatty acid levels, using GC-MS, and express these as a functi on of changes in plasma protein thiol values. In nine out of eleven AR DS patients there was a relationship between loss of protein thiols an d loss of total lipid linoleic acid. In three patients changes in prot ein thiols preceded changes in total lipid linoleic acid by several da ys. Parallel decreases in plasma total lipid fatty acid esters of lino leic acid and protein thiols are suggestive of oxidative stress leadin g to molecular damage.