S₁₀₀: a potential marker of cerebral trauma

Introduction

Head injuries are associated with a high level of morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to examine if S₁₀₀, a calcium binding protein localised in astroglial cells of the central nervous system, can be used as a marker of head injury and to predict survival outcomes from severe head injury.

Methods

After informed consent and local ethics approval, 12 severe head injured patients (GCS ≤ 8) were included. All patients were treated according to standardised head injury protocols. Serial serum samples were taken over a period of 48 h together with various other physiologic measurements. Plasma concentrations of S₁₀₀ were analysed using a radioimmunometric assay - Sangtec^® S₁₀₀ IMRA.

Results

The mean S₁₀₀ in patients who survived was 1.1 μg/l and in those who died 0.79 μg/l. Six of the 12 patients in the study died.

Conclusion

Plasma S₁₀₀ concentrations increase in severe head injuries. The reference value is less than 0.2 μg/l and this was exceeded in both patients who survived and those who died. Serum S₁₀₀ levels could not be correlated with mortality.

Table 1 Serum S₁₀₀ (μ g/l) after severe head injury