Negative then positive then Negative AMA???

[Hellcat79]

I am so confused. I'm not sure if I should even be here. 4 months ago I tested negative for AMA. 2 weeks ago I came back positive. I asked to redo the test and tonight my test results came back negative. Obviously haven't spoke to my Hepatologist yet. I was diagnosed solely based on a positive AMA test. All my liver function tests are normal, no symptoms and my ultrasounds and fibroscans are normal. Has anyone else had this happen? Could the AMA show positive then negative 2 weeks later? My understanding is I need not only a positive AMA but elevated liver tests to be diagnosed or biopsy, but my doctor diagnosed me from the AMA and started me on URSO. I am so confused whether I have this disease or not.

[greywolf007]

sorry to hear about your diagnosis. sounds like maybe you could use a second opinion. have you seen a liver specialist? i have only been diagnosed with pbc myself. i understand what i have been going through over the years was not just how it was because i worked hard, but now know it is because i have a liver condition. does this make any sense for you? i have yet to learn about ama and other numbers, but i have come to learn you may experience different conditions than other people and also may only experience minor conditions. i have heard some people never have any symptoms their hole lifetime but still have pbc.

also i was first told i have fatty liver disease to begin with, but only by a doctor and not a specialist. It was a specialist that told me i have PBC.

sorry if this does not help but i think the diagnosis is has the same start for us both.

[Kakey]

I think you are right, that AMA only isn't enough for diagnosis. But I recently read two things that may interest you. One is that AMA could decrease with Urso, and the other is that AMA (probably at lower levels) could be falsely positive when there is inflammation present.

[blubonnet]

I think about 5% of PBC patients are AMA negative (I am one of them!). So, wouldn't worry so much about that specific value. Biopsy is the only way to confirm PBC if AMA is questionable - I believe!