IMA and IMAR in serum and saliva of preeclampsia - A preliminary study

Introduction: Oxidative stress could play a role in the development of preeclampsia. Ischemia modified albumin (IMA) is a oxidatively modified form of albumin. Objective: To evaluate the levels of salivary and serum IMA and IMA: albumin ratio (IMAR) in preeclampsia and with its severity and investigate their correlation with the fetal birth weight. Methods: This case control study was conducted on 50 preeclamptic (32 mild and 18 severe cases) and 50 normal pregnant controls. Blood and saliva were obtained to measure albumin, IMA and IMAR was calculated. Results: serum and salivary IMA and IMAR were significantly increased in preeclampsia. Although the increase in serum was in accordance with the severity, it was not so in the saliva. Yet, salivary IMAR showed significant difference between controls and mild preeclampsia. There was a negative correlation between IMA and albumin in both serum and saliva. A weak negative correlation was seen between the serum IMAR and fetal birth weight (r = -0.293; p < 0.05), but not with salivary IMAR. Conclusion: This study is an evidence for involvement of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia, which is reflected in serum and saliva. Salivary IMAR could be a better marker for early prediction of preeclampsia.