Rahmel T, et al. - In this prospective, observational study, researchers evaluated the relationship between genotype and survival in 136 Caucasian patients with bacterially induced acute respiratory distress syndrome. They performed bronchoalveolar lavage and blood sampling within 24 hours of intensive care unit admission to measure genotype of the aquaporin-5 (AQP5) –1364A/C promoter polymorphism, bronchoalveolar lavage total protein, albumin, white cell concentrations, and lactate dehydrogenase activity. Findings revealed the C-allele of the AQP5 –1364A/C promoter polymorphism that was associated with reduced pulmonary inflammation and higher 30-day survival in acute respiratory distress syndrome attributable to bacterial pneumonia, supporting that the AQP5 genotype influences inflammation and prognosis in acute respiratory distress syndrome.