Correlation between Ischemia modified albumin with pH in acidosis and alkalosis: A possible link

Ischemia modified albumin (IMA), a recently developed marker for myocardial ischemia is measured by using albumin cobalt binding (ACB) assay. The correlation between the formation of IMA and alterations in the pH levels are of considerable importance and the same was not clear in the available literature. Based on our literature search, the study was designed to check and compare the levels of IMA and the pH in acidosis and alkalosis patients with those in normal patients. The mean of IMA in patient with acidosis (0.832±0.16) was higher when compared with the normal pH patients (mean 0.71±0.21). The IMA levels in patients of alkalosis were also found higher (mean 0.804±0.19) compared to that of the normal control. It was also observed that the mean of IMA was lower in the patients with alkalosis than the patients with acidosis. When the IMA levels and the pH levels in acidosis and alkalosis patients were correlated, there was a weak negative correlation between pH levels in acidosis and IMA levels. In alkalosis, the correlation was positive but there was no significance in these changes. In conditions of acidosis and alkalosis, where the pH levels are altered which could be one of the factors responsible for increase in the IMA levels. However, the correlation was weak and an increase in the sample size could provide us with a better relation between the levels of pH and IMA.