Mansour SG, et al. - Given the possible significance of the process of angiogenesis after kidney injury in determining recovery and long-term outcomes, researchers investigated how angiogenesis markers are associated with acute kidney injury (AKI) and mortality after cardiac surgery. They measured plasma concentrations of 2 proangiogenic markers (vascular endothelial growth factor A [VEGF] and placental growth factor [PGF]) and 1 antiangiogenic marker (soluble VEGF receptor 1 [VEGFR1]), pre- and postoperatively within 6 hours after surgery in 1,444 adults from the TRIBE-AKI (Translational Research Investigating Biomarker Endpoints for Acute Kidney Injury) cohort. Outcomes revealed a 2-fold decrease in plasma VEGF concentrations, and 1.5- and 8-fold increase in PGF and VEGFR1 concentrations, respectively, following cardiac surgery. Lower AKI and mortality risk was observed in correlation to higher levels of postoperative proangiogenic markers, VEGF and PGF, whereas higher risk for AKI and mortality was noted in correlation with higher postoperative antiangiogenic VEGFR1 levels.