Contributed by – Healthians Team
What is an anti-smooth muscle antibody (ASMA) test?
An anti-smooth muscle antibody is a test that detects the presence of antibodies that attack the smooth muscles in a person’s body. This test requires a blood sample. The presence of smooth muscle antibodies in the blood indicates that a person may have chronic active hepatitis.
Who should get tested?
You should get this test done if you have signs and symptoms of certain liver diseases, such as hepatitis and cirrhosis such as:
- Yellowish-coloured skin and eyes
- Pain and swelling in abdomen
- Swollen legs and ankles.
- Itchy skin
- Dark coloured urine
- Pale coloured stool
- Chronic fatigue
- Nausea or vomiting
- Achy muscles
Why is the ASMA test needed?
This is the main test doctors generally use to check for ASMA in the blood. The ASMA test can help a doctor determine whether a person has autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), wherein the immune system mistakenly makes antibodies that attack healthy cells in your liver.
Autoimmune hepatitis can result in:
- destruction of the liver
- cirrhosis
- liver cancer
- liver failure
- the need for a liver transplant
Why do you need this test?
Laboratory tests for ASMA may be done for many reasons. Tests may be performed for the following reasons:
- For routine health screenings.
- If a disease or toxicity is suspected.
- To determine if a medical condition is improving or not.
- To measure the success of a treatment plan.
What does the ASMA test result mean?
Normal results
Normal results indicate that no antibodies are detected in your blood. Detected results of ASMAs are reported as a titer. A normal range is considered to be a dilution less than 1:20.
Abnormal results
The medical community considers results to be abnormal when the amount of ASMA in the blood sample is greater than or equal to a dilution of 1:40. When ASMA levels are high, your doctor may request further tests to investigate the cause.
How is the test done?
This test requires a sample of blood to be drawn from a vein, usually from the forearm. There is usually no special preparation required prior to the test. Fasting isn’t necessary. The blood sample is sent to a lab for clinical analysis. You can return to your usual activities immediately.
