Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) is used as rescue therapy for severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), but its dose-dependent effects on systemic inflammation and outcomes remain controversial. This study aimed to compare clinical outcomes between high- and low-dose iNO in adults with severe ARDS. In this single-center retrospective cohort study, 117 patients with severe ARDS (PaO₂/FiO₂ ≤100 mmHg) treated with iNO between January 2020 and July 2024 were categorized by the maximum iNO concentration received: high-dose (≥ 10 ppm, n = 59) and low-dose ( 0.7) for these parameters in identifying high-dose exposure. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed significantly worse 30-day survival in the high-dose group (Log-rank P = 0.019). In this retrospective cohort, high-dose iNO (≥ 10 ppm) was associated with exacerbated systemic inflammation, impaired coagulation function, greater organ dysfunction, and increased 30-day mortality compared to low-dose iNO in severe ARDS. These findings suggest cautious use of higher iNO concentrations, emphasizing monitoring of inflammatory and coagulation responses.
Bai et al. (Mon,) studied this question.