The proportion of leukocytes > 10 × 109/L (71.4% vs. 15.3%, p <  0.001), lymphocytes < 0.8 × 109/L (71.4% vs. 43.3%, p = 0.011), albumin < 35 g/L (28.6% vs. 8.4%, p = 0.006), PO2/FiO2 < 300 mmHg (76.2% vs 52.4%, p = 0.032) and radiologic cavities (14.3% vs. 2.4%, p = 0.009), were significantly higher in the IPA patients; while, serum procalcitonin (PCT) >  0.1 ng/ml (9.5% vs. 47.3%, p = 0.001) was more common in the control patients. The gene discussed is ALB; the disease is Ito hypomelanosis.