Adiponectin in renal disease--a review of the evidence as a risk factor for cardiovascular and all-cause mortality.

Adiponectin, an adipokine, was discovered in 1995. The initial evidence led to the study of adiponectin as a determinant of insulin sensitivity and blood glucose levels. The literature then evolved to reports of the inverse association of adiponectin with incident Type 2 diabetes mellitus and coronary heart disease. Shortly thereafter, reports of a positive association with heart failure and mortality appeared and were replicated. We review here the basic science evidence and clinical studies of the role of renal function and kidney disease as a determinant of adiponectin.