Physiologic end points for fluid resuscitation in septic shock patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) have been undertaken in randomized studies using the Early Goal-Directed Therapy (EGDT) approach. These studies have demonstrated a beneficial effect on in-hospital mortality with EGDT. The Saline versus Albumin Fluid Evaluation (SAFE) randomized study in critically ill patients demonstrated no difference in survival when saline versus albumin solutions were used for resuscitation. However, a benefit of albumin has been demonstrated in a randomized study on renal function and survival in cirrhotic patients with spontaneous bacterial periotonitis. On the other hand, recent observational studies have shown a correlation between fluid overload and mortality in AKI patients whether or not they necessitated dialysis. Moreover, the Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome ( F luid administration is frequently necessary to stabilize the patient with severe sepsis or septic shock. Moreover, sepsis has been reported to account for approximately 50% of patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) in intensive care units (ICUs) (1). Thus the timing and type of fluid administered as well as renal outcomes are very important. Recently, the timing of the fluid administration and the physiologic end points to be monitored have emerged as Early Goal-Directed Therapy (EGDT) (2). In the patient with septic shock, early intervention with fluid resuscitation within the first 6 hours in the emergency department (ED) has been described as EGDT. Previous studies had generally reported results relating to later interventions in ICUs after admission from the ED.The predefined physiologic goals of EGDT within 6 hours of diagnosis are mean arterial pressure Ն 65 mmHg, central venous pressure (CVP) between 8 and 12 mmHg, improvement of blood lactate levels, central venous oxygen saturation Ͼ 70%, and urine output Ն 0.5 ml/kg/h. The first randomized study to test this protocol-driven approach was undertaken in patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria: systolic blood pressure Յ 90 mmHg or lactate Ն 4 mmol/L, central venous oxygen saturation Ͻ 50%, and mean serum creatinine 2.6 mg/dl.Compared with the control group receiving standard emergency care, the EGDT group received more fluid, blood transfusions, and inotropic use with dobutamine. The physiologic parameters were improved in the EGDT group during the first 6 hours (Table 1). Moreover, the primary end point of inhospital mortality was less in the EGDT group (30.5 versus 46.5%, P Ͻ 0.009). Other physiologic parameters were also improved during hours 7 to 72 (Table 2). Of note, although more fluid was administered from 0 to 6 hours in the ED, the EGDT group received less fluid during hours 7 to 72 and fewer of these patients were on mechanical ventilation (2.6% versus 16.8%, P Ͻ 0.001). This initial study did not specifically examine AKI but examined multiple organ functioning scores (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II and Simplified Acute Physiology Score), wh...