APLN and chronic kidney disease: In particular, studies of the pro-inflammatory agents leptin, apelin, omentin, visfatin and resistin, as well as the anti-inflammatory adiponectin, have demonstrated that CKD is associated with higher leptin and adiponectin levels, as determined from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) [49,50]; showing that means of reduction of such adipokines, such as weight reduction in obese patients, may improve GFR in those at risk of CKD [51].