Kallestad™ Mouse Kidney and Mouse Stomach/Kidney Autoimmune IFA
Clinical Utility
The detection and semi-quantitation of autoantibodies aid in the diagnosis of autoimmune diseases. Laboratories have used indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) procedures to detect autoantibodies since 1957. In these procedures, a fluorescent antibody serves as a marker for an antigen-antibody binding reaction that occurs on the surface of the substrate. Among the substrates commonly used in the IFA procedure are mouse kidney and stomach, human epithelial (HEp-2) cells, and Crithidia luciliae, a hemoflagellate. Observation of a specific pattern of fluorescence on the substrate indicates the presence of autoantibodies in the patient's serum.
A high anti-mitochondrial antibody (AMA) titer supports the diagnosis of primary biliary cirrhosis. Low titers of AMA may be detected in other liver disorders, which include chronic active hepatitis and cryptogenic cirrhosis. Anti-smooth muscle antibodies (ASMA) are present in high titers in the serum of 70% of patients with chronic active hepatitis. In addition, 50% of these patients are positive for anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA), while 25% demonstrate low AMA titers. Low ASMA titers may be present in viral infections, malignancies, and good health. ASMA usually does not appear in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
Anti-parietal cell antibodies (APCA) occur in the serum of 90% of patients with autoimmune pernicious anemia. With other clinical and laboratory data, a positive APCA result helps to distinguish autoimmune pernicious anemia from other megaloblastic anemias.
References
- Peter JB, Dawkins RL. Evaluating autoimmune disease. Diagn Med. Sept–Oct 1979:68–76.
- Doniach D, Roitt IM, Walker JG, Sherlock S. Tissue antibodies in primary biliary cirrhosis, active chronic (lupoid) hepatitis, cryptogenic cirrhosis and other liver diseases and their clinical implications.
Clin Exp Immunol. 1966 1:237–262. - Toh BH. Smooth muscle autoantibodies and autoantigens. Clin Exp Immunol. 1979 38:621–628.
- Lange A, Smolik R, Chmielarczyk W, Garncarek D, Gielgier Z. Diagnostic specificity of autoantibodies. II. Clustering of autoantibodies—role in diagnosis and in comparison to E—and EAC-RFC peripheral blood profiles and immunoglobulin levels. Arch Immunol Therap Exp. 1978 26:881–885.
