ISCHEMIA MODIFIED ALBUMIN (IMA) IN SERUM AS A BIOCHEMICAL MARKER IN PRE-ECLAMPSIA

BACKGROUND: Pre-eclampsia (PE) , a pregnancy specific disorder is the most common cause of foetal and maternal death. Yet no specific prevention and treatment is available. Ischemia Modified Albumin (IMA) has emerged as a marker in different diseases where ischemia is the origin or consequence behind disease pathology. Reliable biochemical markers for prediction and diagnosis of PE can have a better impact on maternal health and several of the markers have been suggested till now. MATERIALS & METHODS: 30 patients with PE were selected for the study and compared with 30 pregnant healthy controls. IMA were estimated in these patients. The results were then statistically analysed. RESULTS: IMA levels were found significantly raised in PE patients as compared to normal pregnant controls (p value<0.001). CONCLUSION: IMA which is generated by hypoxia/ischemia driven oxidative stress is also raised in PE and hence can be used as a biomarker in PE. Further studies are needed to establish the relationship between IMA and the disease process and its association with severity of disease.