Increased serum S100β protein concentrations following severe head injury in humans: a biochemical marker of brain death?

Abstract

This study investigated S100beta protein as a biochemical serum marker of brain damage in severe head injury and brain death victims. Blood samples obtained from 15 patients with severe head injury admitted to the trauma intensive care unit (ICU), five patients with a diagnosis of brain death due to hemorrhage following cerebral aneurysm rupture, and five healthy individuals were investigated. The S100beta protein serum concentrations were analyzed with a immunoradiometric assay kit. The 15 patients with severe head injury were followed up for 6 months. Outcome was considered either death or recovery with ICU discharge. S100beta concentrations were closely related to brain damage. Among the severe head injury victims, higher S100beta concentrations were detected in those patients that progressed to death. The individuals with brain death had similar mean S100beta concentrations, irrespective of its cause (either trauma or vascular rupture). S100beta protein is a promising serum outcome predictor for severe head injury victims and may contribute to the early diagnosis of brain death.

S100B Protein May Detect Brain Death Development after Severe Traumatic Brain Injury

“…[10][11][12] Two were case studies with very limited sample sizes, n = 3 and n = 15, respectively. 10,11 They reported that S100B levels were higher in patients with BD outcome.…”

“…[10][11][12] Two were case studies with very limited sample sizes, n = 3 and n = 15, respectively. 10,11 They reported that S100B levels were higher in patients with BD outcome. The series with the highest number of patients to date, by Dimopoulou et al, included 47 patients with severe TBI and supported the previous findings, although the authors themselves admitted to the limitations brought on by a relatively small sample size.…”

“…It would be interesting to study other biomarkers of brain injury in conjunction with S100B, particularly as most research on BD prediction using serum markers has focused exclusively on S100B. [10][11][12] However, this line of research will be included in future studies. At present, we would like to continue our research with larger samples sizes, sufficient for the specific analysis of patients without pupillary alterations at admission.…”

Traumatic Penumbra: Opportunities for Neuroprotective and Neurorestorative Processes

“…Among the most studied predictors of TBI outcome, age is a consistent predictor, as well as GCS scores and pupillary parameters [18]. Recent studies show a series of either tissue-specific or circulating biomarkers that are useful in the clinical status evaluation of these patients [19][20][21][22].…”

Biomarcadores prognósticos no traumatismo crânio-encefálico grave

“…(16) In severe TBI, S100B correlates with a short time outcome (death or survival), functional prognosis in 6 months and with severity criteria of TBI such as the Marshall score and the ISS. (15,23,24) Serum levels of S100B, assessed in the first hours after severe TBI have been better predictors of long term prognosis, when assessed by the GOS scale than the GCS and the CT Marshall scale. (25) Because S100B has a halflife of about 2 hours, increased values due to primary brain damage should return to baseline levels in 12 to 24 hours.…”