Comparing patients with ARDS and non-ARDS, inflammatory parameters like CRP [205.3 (105.2–305.1) vs. 65.9 (25.1–112.8) mg/l; p<0.0001], PCT [0.7 (0.3–2.4) vs. 0.1 (0.1–0.2) ng/ml; p<0.0001], and IL-6 [276.4 (105.1–366.6) vs. 62.1 (33.9–114.3) pg/ml; p = 0.0001] were significantly higher, and lymphocytes [7.1 (4.6–10.7) vs. 11.5 (7.0–19.9)%; p = 0.003] were significantly lower, at the time of hospital admission (Fig 1). The gene discussed is IL6; the disease is acute respiratory distress syndrome.