Thyroid Function Modulates Lung Fluid and Alveolar Viscoelasticity in Mechanically Ventilated Rat.

Background: Mechanical ventilation (MV) is life saving; yet it may induce severe lung injury and lead to multisystem organ failure and death. Thyroid hormones (THs) promote alveolar fluid clearance and alleviates hypoxia-induced lung injury. Given that the mechanism involved in hypoxia-induced lung injury is different from that of ventilator-induced lung injury, we examined the effects of thyroid function on lung extravascular fluid (LF), aquaporin 5 (AQP 5) expression, and alveolar viscoelasticity (AVE) in mechanically ventilated rat.