At 22:59 27/08/2007, you wrote:
>Sometimes medicine does throw you a real curveball - I did an autoimmune
>screen as part of workup for a possible inflammatory arthritis, and got
>antimitochondrial antibody levels of 1:320. LFT normal, and abdo exam
>normal.
>
>Asked on dnuk, but not very useful replies - if she now applies for
>insurance her possible future primary biliary cirrhosis will be stacked
>against her, but can't say for sure if will happen.
>
>Tried to explain to her - real nightmare consult from hell. Neither of us
>clearer at the end.
>
>James
James,
I presume that the test has been repeated to ensure not lab error?
Endomysial Antibodies could be done, and conversations with you local
gastroenterologist / hepatologist and rheumatologist would probably
be appropriate too.
Just Googling on this it's hard to find any info on the prevalence of
these antibodies in the general population. This may be an absence
of info, but I've never seen them come back positive in the absence
of disease, so it may also mean that they are a significant marker of
pathology.
There does seem to be an association with other autoimmune conditions.
Did DNUK suggest anything (else) specific?
Julian
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