Acute respiratory distress syndrome subphenotypes: the translational path from pathobiology to precision medicine
- 1Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University
Abstract
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a highly heterogeneous critical illness syndrome lacking effective targeted therapies, partly due to the diverse patient population. Subphenotype research aims to identify homogeneous patient subgroups sharing common biological, physiological, or clinical characteristics, enabling prognostic and predictive enrichment. This review systematically summarizes current ARDS subphenotype research, from pathobiological mechanisms to multidimensional identification based on etiology, imaging, biomarkers, respiratory mechanics, and transcriptomics. We highlight evidence for differential prognoses and treatment responses across subphenotypes, including variable effects of neuromuscular blockade, corticosteroids, and prone positioning. We further discuss challenges and future directions in translating subphenotype classification into bedside practice. This article provides a theoretical framework and practical guidance for advancing precision medicine in ARDS.
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BibTeX
@article{shao2026acute,
title = {{Acute respiratory distress syndrome subphenotypes: the translational path from pathobiology to precision medicine}},
author = {Han Shao and Tingting Bai and Tongtong Zhang and Yanyan Qiao and Yanyan Li},
journal = {Frontiers in Pharmacology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fphar.2026.1947054},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2026.1947054/full},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Acute respiratory distress syndrome subphenotypes: the translational path from pathobiology to precision medicine
AU - Han Shao
AU - Tingting Bai
AU - Tongtong Zhang
AU - Yanyan Qiao
AU - Yanyan Li
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/20
JO - Frontiers in Pharmacology
DO - 10.3389/fphar.2026.1947054
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2026.1947054/full
AB - Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a highly heterogeneous critical illness syndrome lacking effective targeted therapies, partly due to the diverse patient population. Subphenotype research aims to identify homogeneous patient subgroups sharing common biological, physiological, or clinical characteristics, enabling prognostic and predictive enrichment. This review systematically summarizes current ARDS subphenotype research, from pathobiological mechanisms to multidimensional identification based on etiology, imaging, biomarkers, respiratory mechanics, and transcriptomics. We highlight evidence for differential prognoses and treatment responses across subphenotypes, including variable effects of neuromuscular blockade, corticosteroids, and prone positioning. We further discuss challenges and future directions in translating subphenotype classification into bedside practice. This article provides a theoretical framework and practical guidance for advancing precision medicine in ARDS.
SN - 1663-9812
ER -