Abbreviations ARDS = acute respiratory distress syndrome, BAL -broncoalveolar lavage, DAMP = damage/danger-associated molecular pattern, F-gp = F glycoprotein, GPI = glycosylphosphatidyl, GRO = growth related oncogene, HMGB-1 = high mobility group box-1 protein, ICAM = intracellular adhesion molecule, IFN = interferon, IL = interleukin, IRF = IFN regulatory transcription factor, LAM = lipoarabinomannan, LBP = lipopolysaccharide binding protein, LPS = lipopolysaccharide, LTA = lipoteichoic acid, MCP = monocyte chemoattractant protein, MyD88 = myeloid diff erentiation primary-response protein 88, NF = nuclear factor, NK = natural killer, Nod = nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain containing, PAFR = platelet activating factor resceptor, PAMP = pathogen-associated molecular pattern, RIP = receptorinteracting protein kinase, RSV = respiratory syncytial virus, SP = surfactant protein, TLR = Toll-like receptors, TNF = tumour necrosis factor, TRIF = TIR-domain-containing-adaptor-protein-inducing-interferon-β Non-invasive ventilation for critically ill patients with pandemic H1N1 2009 influenza A virus infection  We read with interest the study reported by Rello and colleagues [1] . Th e authors described the fi rst 32 documented patients with pandemic infl uenza A H1N1 (PIAH1N1) virus infection hospitalized in an intensive care unit (ICU) in Spain. Twenty-four patients (75.0%) had refractory hypo xemia and required advanced mechanical ventilation. Eight patients (33.3%) received noninvasive mechanical ventilation at ICU admission. Six of these patients (75%) required further orotracheal intubation and invasive mechanical ventilation and two (33%) died.