antiendomysialt

Antiendomysial antibodies, often abbreviated as EMA, are a type of autoantibody. These antibodies are primarily associated with celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten. In individuals with celiac disease, the immune system mistakenly attacks the lining of the small intestine when gluten is consumed. EMA are directed against endomysium, a connective tissue that surrounds muscle fibers. Specifically, they target an enzyme called tissue transglutaminase (tTG), which plays a role in the immune response to gluten.

The presence of EMA in the blood is a highly specific marker for celiac disease. This means that a positive EMA test is very likely to indicate the presence of the condition. EMA testing is often used in conjunction with other serological tests for celiac disease, such as anti-tTG antibodies and anti-reticulin antibodies. A diagnosis of celiac disease is typically confirmed with an intestinal biopsy, which shows characteristic damage to the villi in the small intestine. In most cases, EMA levels decrease or become undetectable once an individual adopts a strict gluten-free diet.