Outcome of pulmonary function in Lemierre's disease-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Pulmonary function in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) survivors typically returns to normal with the exception of a persistent reduction in carbon monoxide diffusion capacity (DL(co)). Septic thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein, (Lemierre's syndrome or postanginal sepsis) is a well-described, albeit uncommon cause of ARDS in which metastatic pulmonary thromboemboli precipitate respiratory failure requiring ventilatory support. We describe convalescent pulmonary function in two survivors of Lemierre's disease-associated ARDS, suggesting that the subset of Lemierre's syndrome induced ARDS survivors have an excellent long-term pulmonary prognosis.