Could poison gas heal lungs? small trial tests carbon monoxide for ARDS
NCT ID NCT03799874
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This phase II trial tested whether inhaling low doses of carbon monoxide (200 ppm for 90 minutes daily for 3 days) is safe and helpful for people with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a severe lung condition. Only 4 intubated adults participated, making this a very small study. The main goal was to check for side effects and measure changes in a blood marker of cell damage.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
inhaled carbon monoxide
What this could lead to
If it works, this could point toward a new treatment for ARDS, a severe lung condition with few options.
What could go wrong
This is a very small, early-phase trial with only 4 participants, so results are not reliable. Carbon monoxide is toxic at high levels, and safety is a major concern.
Disclaimer
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This is a summary of
the original study
.
Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States
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Duke Regional Hospital
Durham, North Carolina, 27704, United States
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Duke University Hospital
Durham, North Carolina, 27710, United States
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Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States
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New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital
Brooklyn, New York, 11215, United States
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Washington University
St Louis, Missouri, 63130, United States
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Weill Cornell Medical College
New York, New York, 10065, United States