Haase et al. found that in patients who had subclinical acute kidney injury with serum creatinine concentrations within reference intervals, but had increased concentrations of NGAL, there was a significantly increased risk of needing renal replacement therapy during hospitalization (OR 16.4, 95%CI 3.6-76.9, P < 0.001), with the results consistent regardless of using serum or urinary NGAL measurements (36). Here, LCN2 is linked to acute kidney injury.