Ischemia-modified albumin concentrations should be interpreted with caution in patients with low serum albumin concentrations

ABSTRACT

Ischemia-modified albumin [IMA'] is a novel marker for assessing cardiac ischaemia. We assessed the relationship between total albumin concentrations and IMA in serum to investigate whether interpretation of IMA was albumin-dependent. 298 serum samples were assayed for total albumin [albumin], using bromcresol purple, and IMA, using an indirect colorimetric assay. Correlations were investigated for the whole data set and for two subgroups, those samples with low albumin [albumin within the reference interval. There was a significant [r = -0.888, p < 0.0001] negative correlation between IMA and albumin both over the entire range of albumin concentrations and in the low albumin concentration subgroup [r = -0.85, p < 0.0001]; however, there was less significant correlation in the subgroup with albumin within the reference interval [r = -0.37, p < 0.0001]. A negative correlation exists between IMA and albumin concentrations; however, there is less significant correlation when albumin is within the reference interval. IMA concentrations determined in patients with albumin concentrations