Patient demographics and underlying conditions did not affect MMP-8 levels on day 28 but significantly higher TIMP-1 levels were associated to male sex (p<0.05), age > 60 years (p<0.01) and ultimately or rapidly fatal underlying disease (p<0.001) as well as coronary artery disease (p<0.01), chronic renal failure (p<0.001), diabetes mellitus (p<0.001) and alcoholism (p<0.05) (Table 1). The gene discussed is MMP8; the disease is alcohol dependence.