HECTD2 one step closer to understand susceptibility for acute respiratory disease syndrome?

Acute respiratory disease syndrome (ARDS) is defined by the Berlin definition as onset of respiratory distress within 1 week of a known clinical insult together with bilateral opacities in the absence of hydrostatic edema (1). Based on PaO₂/FiO₂ and positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) level ARDS is categorized in mild, moderate or severe. ARDS occurs at rates between 30 and 80 per 100,000 person-years and is a common cause of respiratory insufficiency and admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) (2). Prospective studies identified risk factors for developing ARDS such as sepsis, and major trauma. Recent outcome studies show that mortality is still high with hospital mortality between 35% and 46% (3).