title: Ischemia-modified albumin as a predictor of the severity of acute appendicitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The early prediction of gangrenous/perforated appendicitis is of great importance for the surgical planning, further treatments, and predicting the course of disease. Ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) was previously reported as a biomarker of various ischemia-based diseases. Our aim is to determine the predictive value of serum IMA in the severity of acute appendicitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-two patients who underwent urgent appendectomy were included in the study. Plasma level of IMA was measured after diagnosis and before treatment. All patients were classified as noncomplicated (acute) appendicitis and complicated (gangrenous/perforated) appendicitis according to histopathological findings, and comparisons were made between the groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The data of 62 patients with a mean age of 30.1 years were statistically evaluated. The pathological diagnoses were acute appendicitis in 33 (53.2%), and gangrenous/perforated appendicitis in 29 (46.8%) patients. There were significant differences in computed tomography (CT) findings (P = .031) and IMA (P = .012) levels between the groups. A strong positive correlation between IMA levels and CT findings was also found (Spearman ρ = +0.688, P = .003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The IMA can be considered as a novel and useful marker to distinguish gangrenous/perforated appendicitis from noncomplicated appendicitis. The correlation of IMA with CT findings also enhances the predictive value of IMA.
authors: Department of General Surgery, Numune Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: murat05ozgur@hotmail.com.
authors: Murat Özgür
authors: MÖ
authors: Kılıç
authors: Department of General Surgery, Numune Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Cem Emir
authors: CE
authors: Güldoğan
authors: Department of Biochemistry, Numune Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: İlhan
authors: İ
authors: Balamir
authors: Department of General Surgery, Numune Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Mesut
authors: M
authors: Tez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001062:Appendectomy; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D001065:Appendix / Q000473:pathology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002429:Cecal Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005734:Gangrene; D006801:Humans; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012709:Serum Albumin; D000075462:Serum Albumin, Human; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D012709:Serum Albumin; C561522:ischemia-modified albumin; D000075462:Serum Albumin, Human