While baseline kidney function was similar between the renin tertiles, patients in the highest tertile tended to more often be in the medical ICU, have liver disease, and be more acutely ill as suggested by non-renal APACHE II, non-renal SOFA, number of vasopressors/inotropes, requirement for mechanical ventilation, and have more severe AKI as assessed by serum creatinine and NGAL. This evidence concerns the gene LCN2 and acute kidney injury.