This invention concerns methods for monitoring the development of and for treatment of ARDS in a patient. The method for monitoring the development of ARDS is based on comparing the level or activity of the biomarkers obtained in a sample drawn at a later point of time to the levels or activities of the same biomarkers in a sample drawn at a previous point of time. A favorable change in the level or activity of a certain biomarker represents a regression of the disease (recovery of the patient), and, conversely, an adverse change in the level or activity of a certain biomarker represents a worsening of the disease. If, for example, the level or activity for one or more of the biomarkers monitored discontinues to show a favorable change or starts to show an unfavorable change, the treatment of the patient is enhanced by administering a therapeutically active agent useful in the treatment of ARDS. The invention concerns further a method for simultaneous determination of a multiple of biomarkers in a sample from a patient, wherein said biomarkers are related to ARDS. The level or the activity of the biomarkers is determined. The invention also concerns a diagnostic kit useful for carrying out the method, particularly a kit comprising a chip, such as a microarray suitable for use in biochip technology.