RBP4 and steatosis: While in CHC patients, the synergistic effects of hepatic necroinflammation/fibrosis and hypotriglycemia (subsequent to HCV-related hypolipidemia [15]) in down-regulating RBP4 levels might be stronger than the sole effect of steatosis in up-regulating RBP4 levels and leads to a decrease in RBP4 levels of most patients; thus, no association could be identified between steatosis and RBP4 levels at baseline.