Herein, the refractory respiratory failure in patients with COVID-19 was associated with increased CRP, D-dimers, LDH, Ferritin, HMGB1, and IL-33, as well as higher numbers of circulating neutrophils, higher plasma levels of IL-6 and IL-10, and diminished numbers of lymphocytes and platelets. The gene discussed is IL6; the disease is respiratory failure.