title: Is mitochondrial antibody diagnostic of primary biliary cirrhosis?
abstract: In a series of 218 patients diagnosed as having primary biliary cirrhosis only nine exhibited a negative serum mitochondrial antibody. On examining additional specimens from these patients, seven were found to be positive, giving a final incidence of greater than 99%. The two patients whose sera remained negative for the mitochondrial antibody had liver histology compatible with the diagnosis of primary biliary cirrhosis, but a firm diagnosis could not be reached. Three additional mitochondrial antibody positive subjects who were asymptomatic and exhibited normal serum alkaline phosphatase were shown on liver biopsy to have stage I primary biliary cirrhosis. The presence of a positive serum mitochondrial antibody in a patient with or without abnormalities in liver function tests strongly suggests the diagnosis of primary biliary cirrhosis.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000276:immunology*; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000276:immunology; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase