Both NGAL and KIM-1 significantly differed between controls and AKI patients also (NGAL 33.2 +/-50.6 vs. 212.0 +/-14.2 ng/mL, p<0.001 and KIM-1 46.8 +/-56.3 vs. 461.9 +/-38.1 pg/mL, p<0.001), and AKI stage-related increase was observed for both proteins as well (NGAL stage 1–127.7 +/-10.2 ng/mL, stage 2–218.2 +/-38.1 ng/mL, stage 3 234.6 +/-19.3 ng/mL, p = 0.01, KIM-1 stage 1–205.4 +/-327.3 pg/mL, stage 2–514.3 +/-137.9 pg/mL, stage 3–496.4 +/-45.3 pg/mL, p = 0.036) (Fig 2B, 2C, 2E and 2F). Here, LCN2 is linked to acute kidney injury.