ANTI-PARIETAL CELL ANTIBODIES

CLINICAL UTILITY:

Antibodies to gastric parietal cells are found in the sera of patients with pernicious anemia (90%) and in about 60% of females with atrophic gastritis without anemia. The antigen involved is a lipoprotein of the microvilli of the parietal cell canalicular system. The antibodies rarely occur in preadolescent megaloblastic anemia or in forms of gastritis associated with ulcers or stomach cancer.

Prescence of these antibodies is helpful in distinguishing autoimmune pernicious anemia from other megaloblastic anemias. Other disorders in which anti-parietal cell antibodies occur include autoimmune thyroid disease, diabetes mellitus and idiopathic Addison's disease. The overlapping spectrum of autoantibodies in these different diseases parallels a tendency for multiple autoimmune organ dysfunction in these patients. Antibodies are found in less than 2% of the normal population under 20 years of age. Incidence increases in women over 40, and in men and women over 60 years of age.

METHOD DESCRIPTION:

Indirect immunofluorescence is the method used to detect anti-parietal cell antibodies (APCA). Mouse stomach tissue is the substrate.

REFERENCE RANGE:

Negative. Low titers (1:10) may appear in a small percentage of the normal population.

SPECIMEN REQUIREMENTS:

0.5 ml serum. Freeze.