Relation of ischemia-modified albumin levels and left ventricular systolic function in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND

Ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) has been shown to be elevated in patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Our goal was to investigate the association between IMA levels and left ventricular ejection fraction in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with PCI and who developed heart failure during their Coronary Care Unit (CCU) stay.

METHODS

We assessed 75 patients with a first STEMI. Presence of heart failure was assessed during CCU admission, and patients were subdivided into 2 groups: group A (n=45) comprised patients in Killip class I, and group B (n=30) Killip classes>I. Serum IMA concentration was measured within the first 15 min post-PCI. The IMA measured was performed using an indirect method based in the Albumin Cobalt Binding (ACB) colorimetric assay. The ideal cutoff value of IMA was calculated by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

RESULTS

Serum IMA concentrations were significantly higher in group B than in group A (0.37+/-0.09 vs 0.30+/-0.06 (A.U.); p<0.0001). The sensitivity and specificity of IMA for heart failure were 93.3% and 37.7%, respectively, at 0.31 A.U. Multivariable adjustment IMA showed a significant inverse correlation with left ventricular ejection function (r=-0.32; p=0.004). On multivariable analysis both IMA (OR=2.1, 95%CI: 1.2 to 3.9, p<0.001) and left ventricular ejection function (OR=1.7, 95%CI: 1.1 to 2.1, p<0.01) correlated with the occurrence of heart failure.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with STEMI undergoing PCI, serum IMA concentrations are significantly related to LVEF and represent an early marker of left ventricular dysfunction.