A recent trial does not support the use of high-dose atorvastatin for prevention of acute kidney injury (AKI) after cardiac surgery. Among 199 patients who were naive to statin therapy, AKI occurred in 21.6% of those who received atorvastatin compared with 13.4% of those who received placebo. Among 416 patients who were already taking a statin, AKI occurred in 20.4% of those in the atorvastatin group and 22.4% of those in the placebo group. The monitoring board initially recommended stopping enrolment of patients naive to statin therapy because of an increased incidence of AKI among those with chronic kidney disease, and later recommended termination of the trial for futility.