Genetic susceptibility in acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Acute lung injury and its most severe presentation, acute respiratory distress syndrome, are a common denominator for several diseases which can lead to exaggerated lung inflammation. In the last years this variability has been ascribed, at least partially, to genetic issues. This study aims to review the role of the main genes involved in acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome susceptibility, morbidity and mortality. By search on PubMed and LiLACS databases, using the key words acute lung injury, acute respiratory distress syndrome and adult acute respiratory distress syndrome in combination with genetic polymorphisms, 69 papers were selected, from which 38 were included in this review. Were also considered relevant articles extracted from the reference lists in the articles selected from the databases. Genetic polymorphisms are gene variations in at least 1% population. These gene variations may influence the inflammatory response mediators' expression, directly affecting the susceptibility to acute lung injury, the intensity of lung parenchyma inflammation, the development clinical course and outcome. Association studies reproducible in large populations will definitely allow genomics to be included into the diagnostic and therapeutic armamentarium for acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome patients.