AMA, ANTI MITOCHONDRIAL ANTIBODY (M2)

This assay is used for the diagnosis of Primary Biliary Cirrhosis (PBC), an autoimmune disease that affects the liver. It is also called Primary Biliary Cholangitis which leads to inflammation and scarring of bile ducts in the liver. It is a chronic progressive autoimmune disease that more often affects women between the ages of 35 to 60 years. There are 9 types of AMA antigens of which M2 & M9 are most likely to cause clinically significant illness. This assay tests M2 antigen which is most specific for PBC.