Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common disease with an estimated prevalence of 10%-16% in the general population. With high mortality and high risk of cardiovascular disease, CKD imposes substantial cost burden. Recent studies have shown that neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is tightly associated with CKD, suggesting that it has an important role in the diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of CKD. This paper reviewed the progress in the biological function, originality, structure, and role in CKD of NGAL.