S100B urine concentrations in late preterm infants are gestational age and gender dependent

Andrea Sannia1, Francesco Maria Risso, Luc J I Zimmermann

  • 1Dept. Critical Care and Perinatal Medicine G. Gaslini Children's Hospital, Genoa, Italy.

Insights

S100B protein levels in late preterm infants (34-36 weeks) vary with gestational age and gender. This study establishes a reference curve for S100B, crucial for understanding brain development in these infants.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Biomarkers
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Late preterm (LP) deliveries (34-36 weeks) have increased, posing significant public health challenges.
  • LP infants often require intensive care, highlighting the need for better monitoring tools.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To establish a reference curve for S100B protein in late preterm infants.
  • To investigate the relationship between S100B levels, gestational age, and gender in LP infants.

Main Methods:

  • Urine samples were collected from 277 healthy LP infants within 6 hours of birth.
  • S100B protein concentration was measured using an immunoluminometric assay.
  • Clinical and laboratory parameters were recorded for correlation analysis.

Main Results:

  • S100B levels showed a slight decrease from 34 to 35 weeks, then increased significantly by 36 weeks.
  • Female infants exhibited significantly higher S100B concentrations across all measured gestational ages.
  • A significant inverse correlation was found between gestational age and S100B levels.

Conclusions:

  • S100B protein levels in LP infants are dependent on both gestational age and gender.
  • The developed reference curve aids in interpreting S100B measurements, accounting for potential bias.
  • This study supports the neurotrophic role of S100B and emphasizes considering gestational age and gender in its assessment.
Abstract

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