Enzyme inhibitory antibody to pyruvate dehydrogenase: diagnostic utility in primary biliary cirrhosis.

Abstract

In primary biliary cirrhosis, autoantibodies are produced to the family of 2-oxoacid dehydrogenase complexes. These 'anti-mitochondrial' antibodies are traditionally detected by immunofluorescence but this method of detection is subjective and labour-intensive. We assessed an enzymatic mitochondrial antibody (EMA) assay based on antibody inhibition of enzymatic activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex in wells of microtitre plates with a colorimetric read-out. We tested 48 Australian and 1947 Japanese patients with primary biliary cirrhosis, 306 normal subjects and 691 patients with various hepatic and non-hepatic diseases. The overall sensitivity of the EMA for the diagnosis of primary biliary cirrhosis, 82%, was slightly lower than that of immunofluorescence, 90% The advantages of the EMA test include high specificity, >99%, and semi-automated features facilitating objectivity, rapidity, simplicity and economy. The EMA test could be particularly applicable to population screening for early primary biliary cirrhosis.

• Authors: J Jois, K Omagari, M J Rowley, J Anderson, I R Mackay
• Journal: Annals of clinical biochemistry (Ann Clin Biochem) Vol. 37 ( Pt 1) Pg. 67-73 (Jan 2000) ISSN: 0004-5632 [Print] England
• PMID: 10672375 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Autoantibodies
• Enzyme Inhibitors
• Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex

Topics

• Autoantibodies (analysis, immunology)
• Enzyme Inhibitors (immunology)
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
• Female
• Humans
• Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary (diagnosis, immunology)
• Male
• Predictive Value of Tests
• Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex (antagonists & inhibitors, immunology)