Comparative outcomes of corticosteroids, neuromuscular blocking agents, and inhaled nitric oxide in ARDS: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

ObjectivesAcute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. However, the evidence regarding the effectiveness of commonly used treatments, including corticosteroids, neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs), and inhaled nitric oxide (iNO), remains unce...

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Main Authors: Zhiyuan Xu, Xiao Liu, Liang Zhang, Xianliang Yan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-02-01
Series:Frontiers in Medicine
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1507805/full
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author Zhiyuan Xu
Xiao Liu
Liang Zhang
Xianliang Yan
Xianliang Yan
author_facet Zhiyuan Xu
Xiao Liu
Liang Zhang
Xianliang Yan
Xianliang Yan
author_sort Zhiyuan Xu
collection DOAJ
description ObjectivesAcute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. However, the evidence regarding the effectiveness of commonly used treatments, including corticosteroids, neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs), and inhaled nitric oxide (iNO), remains uncertain. Therefore, this study aimed to compare and rank these three treatments to identify the most effective option.Data sourcesWe searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science for clinical trials from the earliest records to 1 May 2024.Study selection and data extractionClinical trials evaluating three interventions compared with the control group for ARDS were included, with restrictions on any language. Data were extracted by two independent reviewers. Frequentist network meta-analysis (NMA) was performed to identify the most effective intervention, and treatments were ranked using the surface under the cumulative ranking (SUCRA) curve. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality, while secondary outcomes included ventilator-free days up to 28 days, ICU mortality, in-hospital mortality, and the incidence of new infection events.Data synthesisData from 26 clinical trials encompassing 5,071 patients were analyzed. Vecuronium bromide was the most effective strategy for reducing 28-day mortality compared to conventional treatment, iNO, methylprednisolone, and placebo (OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.15–1.00, and OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.10–0.85 and OR 0.25, 95% CI 0.08–0.74 and OR 0.23, 95% CI 0.08–0.65; SUCRA: 96.6%). Dexamethasone was identified as the most effective treatment option for increasing ventilator-free days at 28 days compared to conventional therapy and cisatracurium (MD 3.60, 95% CI 1.77–5.43, and MD 3.40, 95% CI 0.87–5.92; SUCRA: 93.2%). Methylprednisolone demonstrated the highest effectiveness for preventing ICU mortality (SUCRA: 88.5%). Although dexamethasone, cisatracurium, conventional therapy, methylprednisolone, and iNO treatment did not show significant superiority in reducing in-hospital mortality, dexamethasone showed the highest probability of being the most effective treatment option (SUCRA: 79.7%). Furthermore, dexamethasone treatment showed the highest safety in reducing the incidence of new infection events compared with placebo and iNO (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.42–0.88, and OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.19–0.58; SUCRA: 91.8%).ConclusionThis NMA suggests that corticosteroids may provide benefits to patients with ARDS. While the application of NMBAs may reduce 28-day mortality, iNO did not demonstrate a significant beneficial effect as a therapeutic measure.Systematic review registrationPROSPERO, CRD42022333165 https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/.
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spelling doaj-art-1babdb1b61f64c1aa59bc210d1c0a8ba2025-02-03T13:44:27ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Medicine2296-858X2025-02-011210.3389/fmed.2025.15078051507805Comparative outcomes of corticosteroids, neuromuscular blocking agents, and inhaled nitric oxide in ARDS: a systematic review and network meta-analysisZhiyuan Xu0Xiao Liu1Liang Zhang2Xianliang Yan3Xianliang Yan4Department of Emergency Medicine, Xuzhou No. 1 People’s Hospital, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, ChinaDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, ChinaDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Xuzhou No. 1 People’s Hospital, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, ChinaDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, ChinaDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Suining County People’s Hospital, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, ChinaObjectivesAcute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. However, the evidence regarding the effectiveness of commonly used treatments, including corticosteroids, neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs), and inhaled nitric oxide (iNO), remains uncertain. Therefore, this study aimed to compare and rank these three treatments to identify the most effective option.Data sourcesWe searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science for clinical trials from the earliest records to 1 May 2024.Study selection and data extractionClinical trials evaluating three interventions compared with the control group for ARDS were included, with restrictions on any language. Data were extracted by two independent reviewers. Frequentist network meta-analysis (NMA) was performed to identify the most effective intervention, and treatments were ranked using the surface under the cumulative ranking (SUCRA) curve. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality, while secondary outcomes included ventilator-free days up to 28 days, ICU mortality, in-hospital mortality, and the incidence of new infection events.Data synthesisData from 26 clinical trials encompassing 5,071 patients were analyzed. Vecuronium bromide was the most effective strategy for reducing 28-day mortality compared to conventional treatment, iNO, methylprednisolone, and placebo (OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.15–1.00, and OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.10–0.85 and OR 0.25, 95% CI 0.08–0.74 and OR 0.23, 95% CI 0.08–0.65; SUCRA: 96.6%). Dexamethasone was identified as the most effective treatment option for increasing ventilator-free days at 28 days compared to conventional therapy and cisatracurium (MD 3.60, 95% CI 1.77–5.43, and MD 3.40, 95% CI 0.87–5.92; SUCRA: 93.2%). Methylprednisolone demonstrated the highest effectiveness for preventing ICU mortality (SUCRA: 88.5%). Although dexamethasone, cisatracurium, conventional therapy, methylprednisolone, and iNO treatment did not show significant superiority in reducing in-hospital mortality, dexamethasone showed the highest probability of being the most effective treatment option (SUCRA: 79.7%). Furthermore, dexamethasone treatment showed the highest safety in reducing the incidence of new infection events compared with placebo and iNO (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.42–0.88, and OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.19–0.58; SUCRA: 91.8%).ConclusionThis NMA suggests that corticosteroids may provide benefits to patients with ARDS. While the application of NMBAs may reduce 28-day mortality, iNO did not demonstrate a significant beneficial effect as a therapeutic measure.Systematic review registrationPROSPERO, CRD42022333165 https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1507805/fullARDScorticosteroidsNMBAsiNOnetwork meta-analysis
spellingShingle Zhiyuan Xu
Xiao Liu
Liang Zhang
Xianliang Yan
Xianliang Yan
Comparative outcomes of corticosteroids, neuromuscular blocking agents, and inhaled nitric oxide in ARDS: a systematic review and network meta-analysis
Frontiers in Medicine
ARDS
corticosteroids
NMBAs
iNO
network meta-analysis
title Comparative outcomes of corticosteroids, neuromuscular blocking agents, and inhaled nitric oxide in ARDS: a systematic review and network meta-analysis
title_full Comparative outcomes of corticosteroids, neuromuscular blocking agents, and inhaled nitric oxide in ARDS: a systematic review and network meta-analysis
title_fullStr Comparative outcomes of corticosteroids, neuromuscular blocking agents, and inhaled nitric oxide in ARDS: a systematic review and network meta-analysis
title_full_unstemmed Comparative outcomes of corticosteroids, neuromuscular blocking agents, and inhaled nitric oxide in ARDS: a systematic review and network meta-analysis
title_short Comparative outcomes of corticosteroids, neuromuscular blocking agents, and inhaled nitric oxide in ARDS: a systematic review and network meta-analysis
title_sort comparative outcomes of corticosteroids neuromuscular blocking agents and inhaled nitric oxide in ards a systematic review and network meta analysis
topic ARDS
corticosteroids
NMBAs
iNO
network meta-analysis
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1507805/full
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