Specimen Collection

3.5 mL SST Serum (Preferred)

4 mL Plain Serum

250 uL Microsample Serum
Reference Intervals

Normally not detected

A qualifying comment will follow a "Detected" result, i.e. antibodies to soluble liver antigens are detected in approximately 30% of patients with autoimmune hepatitis.

Turnaround Time:

Analysed every two weeks.

Diagnostic Use and Interpretation

The determination of autoantibodies against soluble liver/liver-pancreas (SLA/LP) antigen is an important component in the diagnosis of autoimmune disease of the liver. Antibodies against SLA/LP can be considered to be cardinal antibodies for autoimmune hepatitis.

Autoimmune diseases of the liver include:

* Autoimmune hepatitis

* Primary biliary liver cirrhosis (PBC)

* Primary sclerosing cholangiiytis (PSC)

Mainly women are affected by autoimmune hepatitis. The disease manifests itself through increased levels of billirubin, liver enzymes and immunoglobulins, through typical histological changes and through the occurrence of various autoantibodies.

Circulating autoantibodies have gained great significance for the diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis. They occur in the majority of patients, but their role is questionable. The following autoantibodies are associated:

* ANA

* SMA

* LKM-1

* PANCA

* SAL/LP

Anti-SLA/LP have the highest diagnostic accuracy of all antibodies involved. These antibodies occur either singly or together with other autoantibodies. Although their prevalence is only about 30%, the predictive value is almost 100%. Every positive result essentially provides evidence of autoimmune hepatitis (provided that the corresponding clinical symptoms are present.)

References

1 EUROIMMUN kit assay insert.

Contact Information

For further information contact the laboratory, (09) 307 4949 ext 22103 or:
Associate Professor Rohan Ameratunga , Immunopathologist: Locator 93-5724,

Dr Richard Steele , or The LabPLUS Immunology Team

Last updated at 15:02:00 21/02/2019