Spectrum of pulmonary vascular dysfunction in acute respiratory distress syndrome
| Target | Mechanism | Consequence |
| Resistance vessel | Dysregulated vasodilatation/ | Pulmonary hypertension |
| vasoconstriction | Ventilation/perfusion mismatch | |
| Loss of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction | ||
| Microvasculature | Endothelial inflammation | Increased permeability/oedema |
| Leukocyte activation and tissue invasion | ||
| Extravascular compression | Intravascular thrombosis | |
| Increased dead space | ||
| Pulmonary hypertension | ||
| Postcapillary venule | Vasoconstriction and compression | Increased permeability/oedema |
| Endothelial inflammation | Increased permeability/oedema |