When we compared the discriminative ability of the logistic regression models to predict AKI with serum NGAL, serum lactate, or lactate-adjusted NGAL level, the model with lactate-adjusted NGAL level showed the greatest AUC compared to the model with NGAL or lactate alone or the model without NGAL or lactate (AUC of the model with lactate-adjusted NGAL: 0.89, 95% CI 0.85–0.92; vs. AUC of the model with lactate: 0.79, 95% CI 0.74–0.83, p < 0.001; vs. AUC of the model with NGAL: 0.84, 95% CI 0.80–0.88; p = 0.005; vs. the model without lactate or NGAL: 0.75, 95% CI 0.70–0.79, p = 0.035). Here, LCN2 is linked to acute kidney injury.