Törnblom S, et al. - Whether there exists a link between neutrophil activation and acute kidney injury (AKI) in critically ill sepsis patients, was investigated in this study. In sepsis patients suffering first organ dysfunction between 24 hours preceding admission and the second calendar day in intensive care unit, assessments were carried out at two time points ie, on intensive care unit admission (plasma and urine) and 24 hours later (plasma) to measure plasma (n=182) and urine (n=118) activin A (a rapidly released cytosolic neutrophil protein), interleukin-8 (a chemotactic factor for neutrophils), myeloperoxidase (a neutrophil biomarker released in tissues), and interleukin-6. Findings revealed the relation of interleukin-8 in plasma and urine, with septic AKI. Intravascular neutrophil activation in septic AKI was suggested by elevated plasma activin A. In addition, neutrophil accumulation into injured kidneys was indicated by concomitant plasma and urine myeloperoxidase measurements.