As shown in Fig. 2a, the levels of IL-8 were significantly higher in survivors with PARDS compared to survivors without PARDS; however, the levels of IL-8 were not significantly different in non-survivors with and without PARDS (Fig. 2b) but are higher than those seen in survivors with or without PARDS (Fig. 2b vs a) suggesting that IL-8 is associated with death in patients with acute respiratory failure independent of whether the child has PARDS. This evidence concerns the gene CXCL8 and respiratory failure.