ABSTRACT
Non-cardiogenic pulmonary oedema and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are common pulmonary complications related to medication use. More comprehensive discussions on drug-related pulmonary toxicities may be found in the drug information leaflet enclosed with each medication, in pharmaceutical textbooks, and via electronic resources, and interested readers are encouraged to refer to these publications for additional information. Most cases of drug-induced pulmonary oedema and ARDS appear to be idiosyncratic reactions rather than common adverse reactions. For most agents, the pathogenetic mechanisms responsible for pulmonary oedema remain incompletely understood. The pathogenesis of pulmonary oedema secondary to contrast agents appears to be due to chemical irritation of the pulmonary endothelium and enhanced formation of endothelium-derived prostacyclin. Pulmonary oedema during administration of ethchlorvynol is believed to be due to an increase in extravascular lung tissue water secondary to greater alveolar membrane permeability or increase in lymph flow.
