Abstract: Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of serum anti-mitochondrial antibody-M2 (AMA-M2) antibody in physical examination individuals. Methods 18515 serum samples were collected from the Physical Examination Center, Shanghai General Hospital between May 2012 and December 2014. Serum AMA-M2 was quantitatively detected by ELISA, and blood biochemical parameters were assayed. Results Among 18515 screened people, 245 persons (1.3%) were serum AMA-M2 positive, of which 97 were men and 148 were women, with the ratio of men to women of about 1∶1.5, and the highest positive rate (28.6%) was found in 46 to 55 year old age group(n=70); serum alkaline phosphatase levels increased in 12 persons with serum AMA-M2 positive, who met the diagnostic criteria of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC); serum ALP level in 54 persons with higher serum AMA-M2 (＞150U/ml) was (92.8±85.6 U/L), and serum GGT level was (84.3±118.5 U/L, significantly higher than [(67.7±38.3U/L) and (39.1±61.8U/L), respectively, P<0.05] in 191 individuals with low serum AMA-M2. Conclusion It is not uncommon that serum AMA-M2 antibody is positive in healthy people, and early screening serum AMA-M2 antibody is helpful for early diagnosis of PBC.

Key words: Primary biliary cholangitis, Anti-mitochondrial antibody, Physical examination and screening, Diagnosis