How is it used?When is it ordered?What does the test result mean?Is there anything else I should know?
The AMA test is ordered to help diagnose primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). It may be ordered by itself or along with other
autoantibodies such as
anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) and
anti-smooth muscle antibodies (ASMA) to help detect PBC and distinguish it from other conditions that may be causing autoimmune-related liver damage. The AMA-M2 test is being offered by some laboratories instead of the AMA test. In most cases, the laboratory will have one test or the other but not both.
The AMA or AMA-M2 test is ordered when a doctor suspects that the patient has PBC. The patient may have symptoms such as an enlarged liver and spleen, fatigue,
jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), and itchiness, but many patients affected with early PBC do not have any symptoms. The condition is often initially identified because a patient has elevated liver enzymes (especially
alkaline phosphatase (ALP)) that are found during routine blood tests.
AMA or AMA-M2 tests may be ordered along with or following a variety of tests that are used to help diagnose and/or rule out other causes of liver disease or injury. These causes can include infections (such as viral hepatitis), drugs, alcohol abuse, toxins, genetic conditions, metabolic conditions, and autoimmune hepatitis.
What does the test result mean?NOTE: This test has no single number that identifies an abnormal result.
Your lab report (see a sample report) should include
a range of numbers (reference range) that identifies what is expected for you based on
your age, sex, and the method used in that laboratory. You can find more information
about expected results at Reference Ranges
and What They Mean. Lab Tests Online strongly recommends that you discuss the meaning of your test results with your doctor.
When significant amounts of AMA or AMA-M2 are present in the blood, the most likely cause is PBC. Small concentrations of AMA may also be present in patients with chronic active
hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis, liver or bile obstruction, and with infections such as
syphilis or acute infectious hepatitis. It may also be present in patients with other
autoimmune disorders such as
systemic lupus erythematosus,
rheumatoid arthritis, and
thyroiditis. The AMA test is not used to diagnose these other conditions, but its presence does indicate some degree of autoimmune activity.
A small number of patients will have PBC even though they are negative for AMA.
Concentrations of AMA may be lower in children and in those with compromised immune systems.
Is there anything else I should know?
AMA and AMA-M2 are not diagnostic of PBC. When significant concentrations of AMA or AMA-M2 are present, and the doctor suspects PBC, a liver
biopsy may be performed to look for characteristic signs of primary biliary cirrhosis in the liver tissue. Imaging scans of the liver may also be ordered to look for bile duct obstructions.
About 50% of the cases of PBC will be discovered before the patient has noticeable symptoms.
