Positive antimitochondrial antibody but normal alkaline phosphatase: Is this primary biliary cirrhosis?

摘要: Twenty-nine patients with a positive antimitochondrial antibody titer ≥1/40, who were detected during screening for other autoimmune disease, are described had normal serum bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase and transaminase no symptoms of liver disease at presentation. Liver biopsies in 12 the 29 fulfilled diagnostic criteria primary biliary cirrhosis; further consistent cirrhosis, but only 2 normal. There was high incidence autoantibodies diseases, especially thyroid antibodies disorders. Sixteen these have been followed over 4 years since diagnosis (mean = 6 years, range to 9 years) mean 8.7 initial detection (range 13). Five 16 developed suggestive 11 elevation phosphatase. The activity same IgG subclasses (predominantly IgG1 IgG3) as that seen group 23 clinically, biochemically histologically advanced cirrhosis. All showed abnormalities on quantitative estimation total serum; relative excess IgG3 and, lesser extent, IgG2 exhibited. It is concluded that, this study, finding an ≥1/40 strongly cirrhosis even absence presence