Evaluation of cord blood ischemia modified albumin in normal pregnancies and pre-eclampsia.

OBJECTIVE: Pre-eclampsia is associated with ischemia and increased oxidative stress, which may lead to modification of plasma albumin to ischemia modified albumin (IMA). METHODS: IMA levels were estimated in cord blood of 30 newborns born to pre-eclamptic mothers and compared with 30 normal newborns. IMA was estimated colorimetrically and the results were compared statistically. RESULTS: The levels of IMA were found to be significantly higher (p < 0.001) in newborns born to pre-eclamptic mothers (0.835 ± 0.02 ABSU) as compared to those born to normal mothers (0.325 ± 0.01 ABSU). CONCLUSION: IMA may act as a marker of ischemia and oxidative stress in newborns delivered to pre-eclamptic mothers.