Abstract: 　Objective　To explore the risk factors of acute kidney injury (AKI) in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. Method　The clinical data of 313 VLBW newborns aged under 3 days from January 2012 to December 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the improved KDIGO standard of neonatal AKI, the difference between AKI (group AKI) and non AKI (group NAKI) newborns was compared, and the risk factors of AKI and mortality of AKI infants were analyzed. Results　In the 313 VLBW infants, 126 had AKI and the incidence rate was 40.3%. There were 53 cases at stage 1 (42.1%), 43 cases at stage 2 (34.1%), and 30 cases at stage 3 (23.8%). Compared with NAKI group, patients in AKI group were lower in gestational age, birth weight, 5-minute Apgar score, critical score and mean arterial pressure. Furthermore, AKI group was higher in mother’s age, incidence of premature rupture of membranes and respiratory failure. Also, white blood cells number and procalcitonin level were higher; albumin and sodium levels were lower; more cases had invasive mechanical ventilation after birth; time of mechanical ventilation was longer; mortality were higher in AKI group. There were statistically differences (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that gestational age, respiratory failure and invasive mechanical ventilation at birth were independent risk factors for AKI in VLBW infants. More severe acidosis and associated pulmonary hemorrhage at admission were the independent risk factors for the death caused by AKI in children. Conclusions　Short gestational age, respiratory failure, and invasive mechanical ventilation at birth significantly increased the risk of AKI in VLBW infants. The more severe metabolic acidosis and pulmonary hemorrhage increased the risk of death in AKI children .