Reilly JP, et al. – Given the postulation that a casual biomarker for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) could drive precision therapy options and plasma angiopoietin-2 (ANG2) appears to be a strong candidate based on experimental and observational evidence, researchers conducted this study to test genetically predicted ANG2 for ARDS association. They used genetic causal inference methods—Mendelian randomization and mediation analysis—to infer potential effects of plasma ANG2. Findings suggested an association of the strongest ANG2-determining ANGPT2 genetic variant with higher ARDS risk in septic European ancestry study participants. In ARDS development, plasma ANG2 might be a causal factor. To prevent or treat sepsis-associated ARDS, the authors recommended strategies to reduce plasma ANG2 warrant testing.