Antimitochondrial antibody

What is AMA?
This test measures the amount of anti mitochnodrial antibodies (AMA) in the body. These are a type of autoantibodies that attack body’s own healthy cells and indicate the presence of an autoimmune disorder called primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). It causes damage to the liver ducts resulting in bile build up in the liver. This causes scarring of the liver and can even lead to liver failure. This condition also increases the risk of liver cancer.AMA test is recommended if a doctor suspects symptoms of PBC including fatigue, itchy/ yellowing of skin, upper right abdominal pain, swelling or edema of hands, feet and abdomen and dry mouth and eyes.Sometimes a positive AMA test indicates the presence of an autoimmune hepatitis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis or graft-versus-host disease.