Thus, this pilot study demonstrates the better diagnostic value of renal pelvic vanin 1 in human samples than kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) or neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), commonly used as biomarkers for hydronephrosis conditions, and the potential of vanin 1 as biomarker for AKI was again confirmed. The gene discussed is VNN1; the disease is acute kidney injury.