In two population-based cohorts comprising more than 7000 volunteers we found that, even after exclusion of subjects with conditions that predispose to chronic renal disease such as hypertension or diabetes mellitus type 2, serum Ang-2 concentration associate with the most sensitive parameters of renal impairment, serum cystatin C, uACR and eGFR(cys). The gene discussed is ANGPT2; the disease is diabetes mellitus.