The significance of the S100B protein in patients with an injury to the central nervous system

Inroduction: The S100B protein is a small dimeric protein which belongs to a group of calcium binding proteins. It is found in astroglial cells in the central nervous system (CNS). The S100B protein is detected, at very low concentrations, in fat tissue, muscle and bone marrow. We can measure this marker in the cerebrospinal fluid, in serum and in urine. The commercially available assay measures the sum of two different dimers (the S100A1B and S100BB) which collectively are called the S100B protein.The level of this marker increases significantly in patiens with CNS damage. Studies of patients with isolated head trauma have demostrated a correlation between serum marker level, neurological findings and outcome. In patients with polytrauma there is a problem to evaluating the initial S100B protein level with regards to CNS damage, because the S100B protein level can be affected by extracerebral sources of the S100B protein. Aim of study: The aim of our study was to evaluate the significance of the S100B protein in patiens with either isolated head trauma or polytrauma and to evaluate the significance of the initial level and the significance of dynamic monitoring of the S100B protein levels. The importace of these levels for predicting primary CNS damage, and for making a prognosis of such patiens..