Using serum creatinine elevations to define AKI, we found statistically significant elevations in post-operative urine IL-18, urine NGAL, urine IL-8, and serum IL-8 in patients with AKI compared to those without AKI, and both serum and urine IL-6 levels were higher in AKI patients despite failing to achieve statistical significance. The gene discussed is IL18; the disease is acute kidney injury.