Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a respiratory disorder that occurs when there is a buildup of fluid in the small air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs. This can lead to a lack of air in the lungs, and the supply of oxygen to the bloodstream will decrease. Lack of oxygen can damage other vital organs in the body, even making them stop working. If not handled quickly, this can certainly threaten the patient's life. The symptoms that often occur are shortness of breath, rapid breathing, and low blood pressure.

In general, ARDS occurs due to other health problems such as sepsis, acute pneumonia, inhaling harmful substances, serious head or chest injury, pancreatitis, having burns or blood transfusion. COVID-19 can also trigger ARDS. Other factors can increase the risk of ARDS, namely age, fond of alcohol consumption, and smoking. Not only 'outside' factors, 'inside'ones, like the microbiome of the lungs, also plays an important role.

The body contains trillions of microbial cells that have their respective roles, including bacteria and fungi. In the lungs, fungi play an important role in maintaining their performance. According to the results of a recent study presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress, the diversity of fungi in the lungs can be a factor in the occurrence of ARDS. Low diversity of fungi is known to be associated with a higher risk of ARDS, which may even develop into more severe disease.

In the study, the researchers analysed 202 patients who had a high risk of ARDS. Participants were known to have an average age of 50 years, of which 61% of the participants were women. To analyse the diversity of fungi, mucus samples from the trachea were collected within 48 hours after intubation. After that, DNA analysis was then performed.

It was found that 21% of the participants had ARDS. Researchers found that participants with ARDS had significantly lower fungi diversity than participants without ARDS. In fact, this condition was also associated with organ failure, shock, and sepsis. The low diversity of fungi was also associated with higher levels of the protein pentraxin-3, a marker of inflammation in the body. Basically, the fungi in the body play a role in activating and regulating the immune system. Therefore, the low diversity of fungi can lead to hyperinflammation in the body.

Text by Anggie Triana
Stock photos from iStock

Source(s):

• Medical News Today - Study finds link between low fungi diversity in lungs and severity of ARDS (2020). https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/study-finds-link-between-low-fungi-diversity-in-lungs-and-severity-of-ards, 1 September 2020.
• Mayo Clinic - ARDS - Symptoms and causes (2020). https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ards/symptoms-causes/syc-20355576, 1 September 2020.