Acute decompression illness and serum s100beta levels: a prospective observational pilot study

S100beta, a calcium binding protein associated with astroglial cells and other tissues has been shown to be raised in the serum of patients with a number of neurological pathologies. As there are no published data on serum S100beta determinations in recreational divers affected by decompression illness (DCI) this pilot study determines whether S100beta is a possible biochemical marker of DCI worthy of further investigation.

Venous blood samples were drawn from patients diagnosed with, and treated for acute DCI at a hyperbaric facility and analysed for serum S100beta concentration and Creatine Kinase (CK) activity. Samples were taken at initial presentation, and again following final treatment.

Twenty one patients were included in the study. Neither S100beta, nor CK levels were significantly raised above population normal limits.

S100beta is not a clinically useful serum marker of acute DCI.