Ischemia-Modified Albumin is Increased in Patients With Unstable Angina: A new Potential Diagnostic Biomarker of This Acute Coronary Syndrome?

To examine changes in serum ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) concentrations in patients with unstable angina (UA) and stable angina (SA) and their potential clinical significance. Eighty-eight subjects were divided into 3 groups: UA group (n=34), SA group (n=24), and healthy control group (n=30). Ischemia-modified albumin concentration was measured using an assay adapted to the Hitachi 7600 automated chemistry analyzer. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and mural movement (MM) were assessed by echocardiography. IMA concentration was higher in UA patients than in SA patients or healthy controls (P<0.01), while the difference in serum IMA levels between SA patients and normal controls was insignificant (P>0.05). IMA concentration was negatively correlated with LVEF in UA patients (r = −0.686, P<0.01) and increased significantly in patients with an abnormal LVEF (<50%) compared with those with a normal LVEF (≥50%) (P <0.01). In UA or SA patients with a normal LVEF, IMA concentration was significantly higher in UA patients (P<0.01). Ischemia-modified albumin concentration is increased significantly in UA patients. In addition, IMA is negatively correlated with abnormal LVEF, which may prove to be of clinical significance in the early diagnosis and stratification of risk in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).