Fig. 2

Plasma protein biomarkers indicative of cytokine release and systemic inflammatory responses, and endothelial cell and procoagulant responses, in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients stratified according to the development of an ICU-acquired pneumonia (case) or not (control) at baseline, event, and their change over time. The baseline sample was obtained upon enrollment into the study. In cases, a follow-up blood sample was obtained on the day the pneumonia was diagnosed (event); in controls, a follow-up sample (”event”) was drawn on day 7 after enrollment into the study. Data are expressed as mean estimate with 95 percent confidence interval, derived from the linear mixed model. Asterisks indicate differences between groups (*P < 0.05. **P < 0.01. ***P < 0.001). Definition of abbreviations: CD—cluster of differentiation, IL—interleukin, MMP—matrix metalloproteinase, RA—receptor antagonist, RAGE—receptor for advanced glycation endproducts, s—soluble, TREM—triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells; VCAM—vascular cell adhesion protein