Novel Biomarkers for AMA-Negative Primary Biliary Cholangitis

Antimitochondrial antibodies (AMAs) diagnose primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) in about 90% of cases. In their absence, two novel biomarkers — antibodies to hexokinase 1 (HK1) and kelch-like 12 (KLHL12) — are potentially useful in diagnosing PBC. To assess the prevalence of these antibodies and their association with disease progression and outcomes, researchers in Spain analyzed prospectively collected serologic data in a retrospective cohort of 254 patients with PBC.

PBC was diagnosed using current criteria for both AMA-positive and AMA-negative PBC. All patients received ursodeoxycholic acid therapy and were tested for anti-HK1, anti-KLHL12, AMA, and the two other PBC-specific antibodies — anti-gp210 and anti-sp100. Of the 254 patients, 1…