Which disease might be indicated by antibodies to smooth muscle?

Which disease might be indicated by antibodies to smooth muscle?

• A. Atrophic gastritis
• B. Chronic active hepatitis
• C. Myasthenia gravis
• D. Sjogren's syndrome

Answer: (B)

Antibodies to smooth muscle are a classic marker of autoimmune hepatitis. They target components in smooth muscle, and their presence supports an autoimmune process in the liver, especially in chronic active hepatitis where autoimmune hepatitis is a leading consideration. This antibody pattern helps distinguish AIH from other autoimmune conditions that involve different targets—for example, atrophic gastritis is linked to parietal cell or intrinsic factor antibodies, myasthenia gravis to acetylcholine receptor–related antibodies, and Sjogren’s syndrome to anti-SSA/SSB antibodies. So the finding of smooth muscle antibodies most strongly points to autoimmune hepatitis.

Antibodies to smooth muscle are a classic marker of autoimmune hepatitis. They target components in smooth muscle, and their presence supports an autoimmune process in the liver, especially in chronic active hepatitis where autoimmune hepatitis is a leading consideration. This antibody pattern helps distinguish AIH from other autoimmune conditions that involve different targets—for example, atrophic gastritis is linked to parietal cell or intrinsic factor antibodies, myasthenia gravis to acetylcholine receptor–related antibodies, and Sjogren’s syndrome to anti-SSA/SSB antibodies. So the finding of smooth muscle antibodies most strongly points to autoimmune hepatitis.