Cord blood ischemia-modified albumin: is it associated with abnormal Doppler findings in complicated pregnancies and predictive of perinatal asphyxia?

AIM: To evaluate the significance of the cord blood ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) level as a diagnostic marker for perinatal asphyxia and to determine the associations of IMA levels with the complexity of pregnancy and abnormal Doppler findings, regardless of perinatal asphyxia. METHODS: This prospective study included 169 newborns, sixteen of whom had perinatal asphyxia and 33 who were from complicated pregnancies. Doppler measurements were obtained from the uterine, umbilical and middle cerebral arteries, and the cerebro/placental ratio (C/P). IMA was measured by means of commercially available ELISA kits and was expressed as picomoles per milliliter. RESULTS: Ischemia-modified albumin levels were significantly higher in neonates of complicated pregnancies as compared to uncomplicated pregnancies (P < 0.0001). They were higher in newborns with perinatal asphyxia as compared to healthy controls (P = 0.015). The C/P ratio-pulsatility index (PI) showed a significant difference between normal and complicated pregnancies without perinatal asphyxia (P < 0.0001). IMA levels were significantly increased in cases with abnormal C/P ratio-PI. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated cord blood IMA levels may be accepted as a useful marker in perinatal asphyxia. Abnormal Doppler examinations are associated with elevated IMA levels in complicated pregnancies.