Anti-smooth muscle antibody
Anti-smooth muscle antibody
Anti-smooth muscle antibody (pronunciation: an-tee-smooth mus-kul an-ti-bod-ee), often abbreviated as ASMA, is a type of autoantibody that is typically associated with autoimmune hepatitis and other autoimmune diseases.
Etymology
The term "anti-smooth muscle antibody" is derived from its function and target. "Anti-" is a prefix from Greek meaning against, "smooth muscle" refers to the type of muscle tissue that these antibodies target, and "antibody" is a term in immunology referring to a protein produced by the body's immune system that recognizes and binds to specific foreign substances.
Definition
Anti-smooth muscle antibodies are a type of autoantibody that targets proteins found in smooth muscle tissue. These antibodies are often found in the blood of individuals with certain autoimmune diseases, most notably autoimmune hepatitis.
Related Terms
- Autoantibody: A type of antibody that is produced by the immune system and that mistakenly targets and reacts with a person's own tissues or organs.
- Autoimmune disease: A condition in which your immune system mistakenly attacks your body.
- Autoimmune hepatitis: A disease in which the body's immune system attacks liver cells. This condition can lead to inflammation and serious damage to liver cells.
- Smooth muscle: A type of muscle tissue which is used by various systems in the body to apply pressure to vessels and organs.
Clinical Significance
The presence of anti-smooth muscle antibodies in the blood is often used as a diagnostic marker for autoimmune hepatitis. These antibodies can be detected through a blood test and are found in approximately 70% of individuals with this condition. However, they can also be present in other autoimmune conditions, making further diagnostic testing necessary to confirm a diagnosis.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Anti-smooth muscle antibody
- Wikipedia's article - Anti-smooth muscle antibody
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