{
  "abstract": "Background\n\nPirfenidone, approved for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), slows lung function decline and reduces fibrosis, including in post-COVID-19 pulmonary fibrosis. Its early use in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) remains uncertain. This study evaluated the effects of early pirfenidone administration on short- and long-term outcomes in pulmonary infection-related ARDS.Methods\n\nIn this prospective cohort study, 97 ARDS patients were consecutively recruited and assigned to Pirfenidone (n = 29), Glucocorticoid (n = 38), or Control (n = 30) groups according to the severity and clinical course of the disease by the attending clinical team, all receiving standard care. Short-term outcomes included 28-day mortality, ICU length of stay, and hospital length of stay. Long-term outcomes at 3 and 6 months included chest CT fibrosis score, pulmonary function [forced vital capacity (FVC) and diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO)], SpO₂/FiO₂ ratio, modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea score, and Activities of Daily Living (ADL) score. Safety was assessed via adverse events and laboratory parameters.Results\n\nAt 6 months, the Pirfenidone Group had significantly lower chest CT fibrosis scores than the Glucocorticoid Group [3.0 (0.0-6.5) vs. 6.0 (4.0-8.0), p < 0.05], which was comparable to that of the Control Group. FVC, SpO₂/FiO₂, and ADL scores at 3 and 6 months were significantly higher in the Pirfenidone Group compared with both Glucocorticoid and Control groups (all p < 0.01). Long-term outcomes improved relative to baseline (p < 0.05). Short-term outcomes, mMRC scores, and safety indicators showed no significant differences among groups (p > 0.05). No severe drug-related adverse events were observed.Conclusion\n\nEarly pirfenidone administration in pulmonary infection-related ARDS enhances long-term functional recovery and reduces fibrosis without increasing safety risks, although it does not significantly impact short-term outcomes. These findings support the consideration of early antifibrotic therapy in ARDS management.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400010, China.",
    "Department of Critical Care Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400010, China. tongjin01234@163.com."
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 3,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Meiling Long"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Yi Zhang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Jin Tong",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-1538-2684"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4naafgq02znf4.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1186/s12890-026-04552-0",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13726302",
  "id": "4naafgq02znf4",
  "issns": [
    "1471-2466"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42972547",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Research"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2740|Respiratory Support and Mechanisms"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7172519587",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13726302?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13726302",
  "pmid": "42972547",
  "published": "2026-08-05",
  "publisher": "BMC",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4naafgq02znf4.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-04T15:20:44Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42972547",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42972547"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-05T12:22:41Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13726302",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1186/s12890-026-04552-0"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2740|Respiratory Support and Mechanisms",
      "subfield": "general"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Effect of pirfenidone on the short- and long-term outcomes in pulmonary infection-related acute respiratory distress syndrome: a prospective cohort study.",
  "title_text": "Effect of pirfenidone on the short- and long-term outcomes in pulmonary infection-related acute respiratory distress syndrome: a prospective cohort study.",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-06T12:22:18Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4naafgq02znf4",
  "venue": "BMC pulmonary medicine",
  "versions": []
}