Recent studies suggest that ARDS might be better predicted by specific biomarkers, such as plasma levels of the soluble form of the receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE) as a marker of lung epithelial injury7,8 and plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor receptor-1 (TNFR1), IL-6, IL-8, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI1) as markers of a hyperinflammatory ARDS subphenotype8,9. The gene discussed is IL6; the disease is acute respiratory distress syndrome.