Slight and short-lasting increase of serum S-100B protein in extra-cranial trauma

Stefanos Korfias MDa*, George Stranjalisa, Christina Psachouliab, Constantinos Vasiliadisb, Marinos Pitaridisc, Efstathios Boviatsisa & Damianos E. Sakasaa Department of Neurosurgery, University of Athens, Evangelismos Hospital, Athens, Greeceb Department of Biochemistry, University of Athens, Evangelismos Hospital, Athens, Greecec Department of Intensive Care Medicine, University of Athens, Evangelismos Hospital, Athens, Greece† Correspondence: Stefanos Korfias, The Grove Hotel, 134 Brighton Grove Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 5NT, UK, + 44 7981669028, + 30 6932458361 skorfias@mail.grstefanos.korfias@nuth.nhs.ukObjective: Serum S-100B protein is an established biochemical marker of traumatic brain injury. At the same time, the question of extra-cranial S-100B release has been raised. This study evaluates the post-traumatic and post-operative release kinetics of S-100B in 45 trauma victims without head injury.Method: Serum S-100B protein was measured on admission and every 24 hours for 4 consecutive days.Results: Initial S-100B was slightly increased (median: 0.54 µg L−1) and correlated with the severity of extra-cranial trauma (p = 0.0004, Mann-Whitney test). Both severely (abdominal or chest trauma with or without bone fractures) and mildly (long bone fractures) injured showed a rapid decline of S-100B (<0.2 µg L−1) around 72 hours post-trauma. Extra-cranial surgery caused a secondary increase of S-100B, especially in the mildly injured group (p = 0.004, Wilcoxon signed rank test).Conclusions: Extra-cranial injury results in a mild elevation of serum S-100B protein that declines rapidly (1–3 days after injury).