The anti-actin test may sometimes be ordered as an initial screening test for autoimmune hepatitis instead of the SMA test. If it is positive, it may be followed by the SMA to confirm the finding. The anti-actin test is relatively new and, in some cases, is taking the place of the SMA test. The ultimate clinical utility of the anti-actin test has yet to be established.
This test and the ANA test are ordered when a doctor suspects that the patient has autoimmune hepatitis. They are usually ordered when a patient presents with symptoms such as fatigue and jaundice along with abnormal elevated findings on routine liver tests, such as aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and/or bilirubin.
SMA and ANA are usually ordered to help diagnose and/or rule out other causes of liver injury. These causes can include viral infections, such as viral hepatitis, drugs, alcohol abuse, toxins, genetic conditions, metabolic conditions, and primary biliary cirrhosis.
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 SMA and ANA are present in the blood, the most likely cause is autoimmune hepatitis. When both are present, then systemic lupus erythematosus, another autoimmune disorder, can be essentially ruled out as ANA will be positive with lupus but SMA is not.
When F-actin antibodies are present in significant quantities in a patient with clinical signs of autoimmune hepatitis, then it is likely that the patient has this condition. In most cases, if the anti-actin is positive, the SMA will also be positive. Since actin is only one of several cytoskeleton proteins, it is possible for a person to have smooth muscle antibodies even when the anti-actin test is negative.
If the SMA test is negative, then symptoms may be due to causes other than autoimmune hepatitis. However, up to 20% of patients with autoimmune hepatitis will not be positive for SMA, ANA, or LKM1 antibodies.
Concentrations of SMA may be lower in children and in those with compromised immune systems. The levels may vary over the course of the disease and may not be related to the severity of autoimmune symptoms or to a patient’s prognosis.
Small amounts of SMA may be present, along with AMA, in up to 50% of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis and may be found in other conditions such as infectious mononucleosis and some cancers. F-actin antibodies may be present in about 22% of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis
The presence of SMA, F-actin antibodies, and ANA are highly suggestive of autoimmune hepatitis but not diagnostic. When significant concentrations of both are present and the doctor suspects autoimmune hepatitis, then a liver biopsy may be performed to look for characteristic signs of damage and scarring in the liver tissue.
This article was last reviewed on May 3, 2009.
This page was last modified on May 3, 2009.
The review date indicates when the article was last reviewed from beginning to end to ensure that it reflects the most current science. A review may not require any modifications to the article, so the two dates may not always agree.
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