Mitochondrial antibodies without antinuclear antibodies in non-hepatic diseases

The term "pseudo-LE syndrome" was previously used to describe an SLE-like disease in which AMA, but not ANA, were found in serum. In an attempt to find patients with this syndrome, we tested 9 358 sera for AMA and ANA. AMA without ANA was found in six patients without liver disease. One of these patients had an SLE-like disease. Two of the others had diseases of the thyroid and one had rheumatoid arthritis--diseases in which AMA have previously been described. One patient had allergic vasculitis and one hypercholesterolaemia; these diseases are not known to be associated with the presence of AMA.