ADIPOQ and hematocrit: Although most patients were overweight and with elevated cholesterol, DM, HT, and CAD did not differ between patients and controls in accordance with the hypothesis that PBC patients may be protected against the metabolic syndrome, due to the prevention of LDL oxidation by lipoprotein X, the antioxidant effects of bilirubin and/or the elevated levels of adiponectin [29-31].