In the present study, we have shown that, in addition to urine NGAL levels being closely related to AKI, NGAL may be useful to identify the differential types of kidney impairments in cirrhosis.28, 29 Similarly, an article on the development of acute‐on‐chronic liver failure in patients with liver cirrhosis also discussed baseline serum NGAL as being elevated in renal dysfunction and hepatorenal syndrome in liver cirrhosis.30 In our study, increased ascitic NGAL levels were discovered in patients with renal dysfunction in both the SBP and non‐SBP groups. The gene discussed is LCN2; the disease is hepatorenal syndrome.