Adult respiratory distress syndrome with increased serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid levels of squamous cell carcinoma-related antigen.

We report a case with adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) associated with increased levels of squamous cell carcinoma-related antigen (SCC) in the serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). ARDS was likely induced by ibuprofen, based on the presence of pancytopenia and a weakly positive drug lymphocyte stimulating test (DLST). High serum and BALF levels of interleukin (IL)-8, neutrophil elastase as well as SCC were detected. Corticosteroid therapy resulted in clinical improvement, resolution of pulmonary infiltrates on chest roentgenogram and normalization of serum and BALF levels of IL-8, neutrophil elastase and SCC.