Anti-Smooth Muscle Antibody

In the human body, practically every movement on a non-cellular level is brought about by muscles. There are basically three different types of muscles - skeletal muscles, cardiac muscles and smooth muscles. The skeletal muscles are the muscles that help in voluntary movement, like muscles of the limbs. Cardiac muscles are found exclusively in the heart and are involuntary in nature and work ceaselessly throughout our life. The last type of muscle is smooth muscle, which is also involuntary in nature and is found mostly lining the gut, and so, this muscle helps to bring about movement of food in the gut with the help of contraction and relaxation which creates a wave like movement known as peristalsis. The body's immune system is such that it tries to identify any foreign substance and destroys it so that it does not harm the body. But at times, this process goes awry, due to which the body does not manage to differentiate between its own cells and foreign cells. And so, antibodies are produced which target the body's own cells. This condition is known as an autoimmune disease. Here we will see conditions and causes of the production of anti smooth muscle antibody in an individual.

Anti-smooth Muscle Antibody Test

There are certain conditions that can trigger the formation of anti smooth muscle antibody. Liver conditions are mostly the culprit in such cases, with liver cirrhosis and hepatitis often figuring in the list of causative factors. Thus, a test is done to look for these antibodies that may be formed when a person is suffering from these liver diseases.

In this blood test, first the area from where blood will be drawn is zeroed in. Then, an antiseptic is used to clean the area, which is usually the inner part of the elbow. Once this is done, a needle is inserted and blood is drawn and then placed in an airtight vial and sent to the laboratory for spotting the presence of antibodies in blood. This is basically similar to an ANA blood test and is used to identify the presence of anti smooth muscle antibody in the blood. Once the required amount of blood has been drawn, then the site of puncture is sealed with the help of a cotton that has been dipped in an antiseptic, so as to prevent the occurrence of an infection at the puncture site. Ideally, this test should not really cause any kind of pain or discomfort to the individual, and if there is any kind of reddening or any sign of an infection at the site from where blood has been drawn, then he should contact the doctor immediately, so that the infection can be nipped in the bud.

Ideally, in the human body, there should be no such antibodies seen. This is because a response where the body targets its own cells is an abnormal response which surely means that there is something wrong in the body. If the antibodies are identified, then it means that there is an autoimmune disease, where the body is targeting the cells of its own smooth muscles, while the person is suffering from liver cirrhosis or hepatitis. This may also be seen when a person has infectious mononucleosis. This test is helpful for more than one reason. This is a distinguishing test, which helps to reach a final diagnosis on whether a person has autoimmune hepatitis or whether he has any other autoimmune disease, like systemic lupus erythematosus. If the person has positive results, then he must initiate appropriate treatment immediately, so as to prevent any further complications.