Similar to the previous studies that demonstrated an association between the SP-B intron 4 variants and acute respiratory failure in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (Seifart et al, 2002) and respiratory distress syndrome (Floros et al, 1995) we grouped both variants (deletions and insertions) together. This evidence concerns the gene SFTPB and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.