BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the utility of assessing ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) levels for diagnosing acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in patients presenting to the emergency room (ER) with chest pain. METHODS: The records of patients admitted to the ER with chest pain between August 2006 and December 2008 were examined. Those subsequently diagnosed with ACS were included in the study. Serum IMA and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) concentrations were determined in blood samples obtained from patients within 3h of ER admission and on days 1, 3, 7 and 14. IMA and cTnI cut-off values for diagnosis of ACS were employed and the successful diagnosis rates were compared. RESULTS: Of the patients diagnosed with ACS following ER presentation with acute chest pain, the correct diagnosis rate was significantly higher as determined by assessment of IMA vs. cTnI concentrations within 3h of ER presentation (81.02% vs. 42.34%, P<0.01). Thereafter there were no between marker differences in rates of successful diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the notion that IMA may be a useful biochemical marker for the early diagnosis of ACS, particularly in patients presenting to the ER with acute chest pain.
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the utility of assessing ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) levels for diagnosing acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in patients presenting to the emergency room (ER) with chest pain. METHODS: The records of patients admitted to the ER with chest pain between August 2006 and December 2008 were examined. Those subsequently diagnosed with ACS were included in the study. Serum IMA and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) concentrations were determined in blood samples obtained from patients within 3h of ER admission and on days 1, 3, 7 and 14. IMA and cTnI cut-off values for diagnosis of ACS were employed and the successful diagnosis rates were compared. RESULTS: Of the patients diagnosed with ACS following ER presentation with acute chest pain, the correct diagnosis rate was significantly higher as determined by assessment of IMA vs. cTnI concentrations within 3h of ER presentation (81.02% vs. 42.34%, P<0.01). Thereafter there were no between marker differences in rates of successful diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the notion that IMA may be a useful biochemical marker for the early diagnosis of ACS, particularly in patients presenting to the ER with acute chest pain.