A double-blind placebo-controlled study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of L-2-oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid in the treatment of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome*

OTZ does not improve survival or reduce ventilator time in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome and may worsen outcome, although mortality in the OTZ group was similar or lower than most similar trials. Alternatively, our results may be best explained by the unusually excellent outcome in the placebo group.