Antimitochondrial antibodies & bull; hello healthy

Definition

What are antimitochondrial antibodies?

An antimitochondrial antibody test is a test that is often done to diagnose primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). Antimitochondrial antibodies are part of cytoplasmic antibodies that directly fight lipoproteins in mitochondria. Antimitochondrial antibodies were present in 94% of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis. Antibodies in the M-2 group are antibodies that are very important in diagnosing PBC. However, these antibodies are of no use for monitoring disease progression.

When should I take antimitochondrial antibodies?

An antimitochondrial antibody (AMA) or AMA-M2 test is usually prescribed by a doctor when the doctor suspects that you have an autoimmune disorder such as primary biliary cirrhosis cholestasis.

The following are the symptoms of primary biliary cirrhosischoletasis:

itchy rash
jaundice
tired
stomach ache
enlarged heart

Many people suffer from this disease without experiencing any symptoms first. This disorder is usually identified first due to abnormalities in other tests such as liver enzymes, an increase in the amount of alkaline phosphatase.

Precautions & warnings

What should I know before taking antimitochondrial antibodies?

This test can be done with other tests that are used to detect other causes of liver disease or injury. Causes can include infections, for example viral hepatitis, drugs, alcohol abuse, toxins, congenital diseases, metabolic diseases, and autoimmune hepatitis. The AMA and AMA-2 tests cannot identify primary cholestatic cirrhosis, other tests, and clinical symptoms, which can diagnose primary cholestatic cirrhosis.

Here are other tests your doctor may prescribe:

Anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA)
Immunoglobulin M (IgM)
Bilirubin
Albumin
C-reactive protein
Smooth Muscle Antibodies (SMA)

The doctor must perform another liver biopsy to detect a diagnosis of primary biliary cirrhosis after a positive AMA test result and high liver enzymes are found. About 50% of cases of primary cholestatic cirrhosis will be detected before obvious symptoms develop.

It is important that you understand the warnings and precautions before performing this operation. If you have any questions, please consult a doctor for more information.

Process

What should I do before taking antimitochondrial antibodies?

You should listen to the doctor's explanation about this test. You don't need to fast or make any special preparations before the test.

How do antimitochondrial antibodies work?

The medical personnel in charge of drawing your blood will take the following steps:

wrap an elastic belt around your upper arm to stop blood flow. This makes the blood vessel under the bundle enlarge making it easier to insert the needle into the vessel
clean the area to be injected with alcohol
inject a needle into a vein. More than one needle may be required.
Insert the tube into the syringe to fill it with blood
untie the knot from your arm when enough blood is drawn
sticking gauze or cotton on the injection site, after the injection is complete
apply pressure to the area and then put a bandage on