At the end of surgery (day 0), serum MIF concentrations increased in both groups (P<0.001), but were lower in the no/mild AKI group (1143 ng/ml, IQR 955–1922) than in the severe AKI group (1715 ng/ml, IQR 1613–2106, P = 0.02). The gene discussed is MIF; the disease is acute kidney injury.