IL6 and Sepsis: The Sepsis + ARDS group had a greater respiratory rate, a lower PaO2/FiO2, a greater SOFA score, and higher levels of lactate (LAC), procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), IL-10, and FGF21 (all P < 0.05).