CAN ISCHEMIA MODIFIED ALBUMIN LEVEL BE REGARDED AS AN INDICATIVE MARKER OF ULCERATIVE COLITIS AND ITS ACTIVITY?

Abstract

Objectives: We studied the effectivity of serum ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) levels in the diagnosis and clinical activity of patients suffering from Ulcerative Colitis (UC). Materials and Methods: Eighty-eight clinically and pathologically confirmed UC patients and 48 age- and sex- matched healthy volunteers were included in the study. The patients were classified according to the Rachmilewitz Score [Endoscopy activity index (EAI)], and those with a score below five were considered in the remission group, and those above five were considered as active disease group. The IMA levels were calculated by the colorimetric method. Results: When UC patients were compared to the control group, higher IMA levels were observed in the patient’s serum (0.48±0.25 g/L vs. 0.28±0.08 g/L), and the difference was statistically significant (p