Albumin Cobalt Binding or Ischaemia Modified Albumin: a Test of Great Prognostic Value in Malaria

BACKGROUND: We evaluated albumin cobalt binding (ACB) assay also known as Ischaemia Modified Albumin (IMA) assay as a prognostic marker for severe malaria in a medical college setting. METHODS: Consecutive adult patients admitted with both vivax and falciparum malaria were evaluated with ACB assay at the time of admission. Detailed work up and individual patient directed management were instituted in addition to immediate artemisin based antimalarial therapy. RESULTS: 100 consecutive patients (50 with vivax and 50 with falciparum malaria) were evaluated. The reference range for ACB assay was established using 50 adult healthy (25 male and 25 female) individuals. 16 out of 50 p. Falciparum-Infected developed complicated malaria. None of the P Vivax patients developed complicated malaria. All malaria infected patients had high ACB levels (P<0.0001). There was a stepwise increase in ACB levels from healthy volunteers to different categories of malaria (P<0.0001) without any overlap. CONCLUSION: ACB has the potential to be used as a robust simple and inexpensive prognostic marker for organ dysfunction in severe malaria even if an evaluation at multiple sites with a bigger number of patients should be initiated for final recommendation.