Sottile PD, et al. - Whether neuromuscular blockade (NMB) reduces biomarkers of epithelial and endothelial lung injury and systemic inflammation in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients, and whether the association is dependent on tidal volume size and the initial degree of hypoxemia, was investigated herein. In ARDS patients receiving low tidal volume ventilation and those with a PaO₂ (arterial oxygen tension) to FiO₂ (fractional inspired oxygen) [P/F] ratio less than or equal to 120, an association of NBM with decreased biomarkers of epithelial and endothelial lung injury and systemic inflammation was reported.