The VAP patients showed a significant higher APACHE II score compared with HAP patients (16.2 ±6.6 vs. 10.4 ±5.3, P = 0.036, Mann-Whitney U test), but no significant differences were observed between the VAP and HAP patient groups in the number of patients with CRP levels >80 mg/L (3/5 vs. 21/100, P = 0.078, Fisher exact test) or WBC counts >15x109/L (1/5 vs. 18/100, P = 1.0, Fisher exact test). The gene discussed is CRP; the disease is ventilator-associated pneumonia.