Lethal adult respiratory distress syndrome after meningococcal septicemia biochemical markers in bronchoalveolar lavage

A lethal case of Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) consequent to meningococcal septicemia is clinically and physiologically described. Very high levels of eosinophil cationic protein and lactoferrin in bronchoalveolar lavage were observed in spite of peripheral eosinopenia and neutropenia. These findings provide support for the hypothesis that activated granulocytes are involved in the pathogenesis of septic-induced ARDS.