Methods and compositions for treatment of acute lung injury

1. A method of treating acute lung injury (ALI) in a patient suspected of having ALI, the method comprising:

administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of an inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) inhibitor, wherein the iNOS inhibitor is (S)-2-amino-(1-iminoethylamino)-5-thioheptanoic acid (GW274150).

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ALI is induced by inhalation or aspiration of a chemical irritant.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the chemical irritant is selected from a group consisting of chlorine gas, smoke, phosgene, and combinations thereof.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the administering comprises orally administering, intravenous administering, intramuscular administering or aerosol administering.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the administering comprises orally administering the iNOS inhibitor in an amount between 0.1 mg/Kg to 6.0 mg/Kg.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the administering comprises intravenous administering the iNOS inhibitor in an amount between 0.1 mg/Kg to 6.0 mg/Kg.

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein the administering comprises intramuscular administering the iNOS inhibitor in an amount between 0.1 mg/Kg to 6.0 mg/Kg.

8. The method of claim 1 , the method further comprising one or more of the following steps:

monitoring an alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient in the patient before or after the administering;

monitoring a ratio of arterial oxygen partial pressure to fractional inspired oxygen (PaO 2 /FiO 2 ratio) in the patient before or after the administering;

monitoring an oxygenation index in the patient before or after the administering;

monitoring an airway resistance in the patient before or after the administering;

monitoring a peak inspiratory pressure in the patient before or after the administering;

monitoring a lung dynamic compliance in the patient before or after the administering;

monitoring an oxygen saturation drop in the patient before or after the administering;

monitoring a mean airway pressure in the patient before or after the administering; or

monitoring a lung vascular leakage in the patient before or after the administering.

9. A method of treating acute lung injury (ALI) in a patient suspected of having ALI, the method comprising:

a) measuring one or more properties in the patient, the one or more properties selected from the group consisting of:

a ratio of arterial oxygen partial pressure to fractional inspired oxygen (PaO 2 /FiO 2 ratio) in the patient;

an oxygenation index in the patient;

an airway resistance in the patient;

a peak inspiratory pressure in the patient;

a lung dynamic compliance in the patient;

an oxygen saturation drop in the patient;

a mean airway pressure in the patient before;

a lung vascular leakage in the patient; and

combinations thereof;

b) subsequent to step a), administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of an inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) inhibitor, wherein the iNOS inhibitor is (S)-2-amino-(1-iminoethylamino)-5-thioheptanoic acid (GW274150); and

c) subsequent to step b), monitoring the one or more properties in the patient.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the ALI is induced by inhalation or aspiration of a chemical irritant.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the chemical irritant is selected from a group consisting of chlorine gas, smoke, phosgene, and combinations thereof.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the administering comprises orally administering, intravenous administering, intramuscular administering or aerosol administering.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the administering comprises orally administering the iNOS inhibitor in an amount between 0.1 mg/Kg to 6.0 mg/Kg.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the administering comprises intravenous administering.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the administering comprises intravenous administering the iNOS inhibitor in an amount between 0.1 mg/Kg to 6.0 mg/Kg.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein the administering comprises intramuscular administering.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the administering comprises intramuscular administering the iNOS inhibitor in an amount between 0.1 mg/Kg to 6.0 mg/Kg.