In patients with ARDS, BAL fluid SP‐D concentrations of nonsurvivors on day 1 were significantly lower than those of survivors and BAL SP‐D concentrations were associated with arterial‐to‐inspired oxygen (PaO2/FiO2) ratio on days 1 and 3 after the onset of ARDS. This evidence concerns the gene SFTPD and acute respiratory distress syndrome.