Antimitochondrial and other autoantibodies.
Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is characterized by the presence of high-titer disease specific autoantibodies directed against mitochondrial antigens (AMA) of the inner mitochondrial membrane, that are members of the 2-oxo acid complex. Among numerous other autoantibodies found in PBC the focus of ongoing studies is on the PBC-specific anti-nuclear antibodies, that are of diagnostic and clinical relevance since they can be used as a 'positive tool' in the diagnosis of AMA-negative PBC while at the same time identifying a subgroup of patients with more advanced liver disease.
Institute of Liver Studies, King College Hospital, Denmark Hill Campus, London SE5 9RS, UK.
Dimitrios-Petrou
DP
Bogdanos
Harold
H
Baum
Diego
D
Vergani
D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000276:immunology*; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000276:immunology*; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests
D001323:Autoantibodies; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins