Ischemia-modified albumin: is it a promising marker in acute coronary syndrome?

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a type of coronary heart disease (CHD), which is responsible for one-third of total deaths in people older than 35 years. Even though cardiac troponin is the gold standard for myocardial necrosis it is blind for ischemia without necrosis. Studies demonstrate that Ischaemia Modified Albumin (IMA) is more sensitive in diagnosing ischemic chest pain compared to cardiac troponin T and electrocardiogram, and its combination with these tests significantly increases the sensitivity for diagnosing unstable angina, non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), or ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), with high positive and negative predictive values, making it a valuable tool for ruling out ACS in patients with inconclusive diagnoses in the emergency department.

This prospective cohort study, conducted at the Teaching Hospital, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, from 2015 to 2019, investigated ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) levels in 330 acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients. Excluding those with various chronic conditions and those on specific medications, serum IMA was analyzed using a colorimetric assay based on cobalt (II) binding to human serum albumin affected by myocardial ischemia. Serum IMA levels were measured, and statistical analyses, including non-parametric tests and correlation analyses, were conducted to evaluate the association between IMA levels and various demographic and clinical factors.

IMA concentrations were found to be non-normally distributed, with an average concentration of 0.252 ± 0.123 AU. No overall significant gender-based difference in IMA levels was observed, though within the younger age group (< 59 years), males exhibited higher IMA concentrations than females. Significant gender differences were observed in the younger age group, with males showing higher IMA levels than females (p = 0.033). No significant differences in IMA levels were found across different ethnicities (p = 0.217) or BMI categories (p = 0.056). A significant increase in IMA levels was noted in ACS patients compared to control subjects (p < 0.001). Correlation analysis revealed significant associations between IMA levels and total cholesterol (r = 0.262, p = 0.009) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels (r = 0.280, p = 0.006). Notably, a significant gender difference in IMA levels was found in obese patients, suggesting physiological differences in response to obesity. The study also revealed higher IMA concentrations in NSTEMI and STEMI patients compared to those with unstable angina.

The study confirms elevated IMA levels in ACS patients, supporting its diagnostic potential. It reveals demographic influences, such as higher IMA levels in younger males and significant gender-specific differences in obese patients. Personalized approaches considering demographics and lipid management are essential for ACS risk reduction and IMA's role in management.