Enzyme inhibitory antibody to pyruvate dehydrogenase: diagnostic utility in primary biliary cirrhosis.
In primary biliary cirrhosis, autoantibodies are produced to the family of 2-oxoacid dehydrogenase complexes. These 'anti-mitochondrial' antibodies are traditionally detected by immunofluorescence but this method of detection is subjective and labour-intensive. We assessed an enzymatic mitochondrial antibody (EMA) assay based on antibody inhibition of enzymatic activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex in wells of microtitre plates with a colorimetric read-out. We tested 48 Australian and 1947 Japanese patients with primary biliary cirrhosis, 306 normal subjects and 691 patients with various hepatic and non-hepatic diseases. The overall sensitivity of the EMA for the diagnosis of primary biliary cirrhosis, 82%, was slightly lower than that of immunofluorescence, 90% The advantages of the EMA test include high specificity, >99%, and semi-automated features facilitating objectivity, rapidity, simplicity and economy. The EMA test could be particularly applicable to population screening for early primary biliary cirrhosis.
Jois
J
J
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
Omagari
K
K
Rowley
M J
MJ
Anderson
J
J
Mackay
I R
IR
D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011768:Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000276:immunology*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D011768:Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex