In nonmalignant disease, the levels of Ang/Tie system components correlate with disease severity [28, 29, [34] [35] [36] [37] 39 ]. However, current data are insufficient to justify the use of serum soluble Tie2/Ang levels for diagnostic and prognostic purposes. In critical illness, assessment of the Ang/Tie system in patients with different severities of disease and with involvement of different organ systems might help to define our patient population and allow us to rethink our concepts of MODS. In this way, such work may lead to enhanced diagnosis and prognostication in the future [2] .