Abstract
It is now well over a decade since attempts at harmonization of acute renal failure into a definable entity termed acute kidney injury. This has led to several landmark studies outlining the epidemiology of acute kidney injury, particularly in the critically ill, as well as providing insights into the long-term effects of the syndrome. Despite the introduction of consensus definitions and improvement in recognition, this has not been translated into outcome benefits as yet. The introduction of novel biomarkers associated with renal damage was primarily aimed at aiding early recognition of acute kidney injury. We argue that, in the future, using biomarkers may not only alert to acute kidney injury but may direct therapy in a personalized fashion rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.