As regard clinical parameters, DR extension and the number of EpCAM-positive HPCs were correlated with ALT (r = 0.467; p<0.05 and r = 0.657; p<0.01, respectively) and with the steatosis grade assessed by liver ultrasonography (r = 0.490; p<0.05 and r = 0.632; p<0.01, respectively). Here, EPCAM is linked to steatosis.