Serial measurements of circulating HMGB1 after sepsis onset allows classification of patients into those who present early peak of HMGB1 over the disease course (i.e., the first 48 h from sepsis onset) and into those who present late peak of HMGB1 over the disease course (i.e., after seven days from sepsis onset). This evidence concerns the gene HMGB1 and Sepsis.