No significant differences were observed between patients with ARDS/ALI and unaffected individuals in terms of the levels of IL‐8 (SMD: 0.61; P = 0.159), IL-10 (SMD: 1.10; P = 0.231), and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1 (SMD: 0.70; P = 0.060). This evidence concerns the gene SERPINE1 and acute respiratory distress syndrome.