Serum S100B in patients with brain tumours undergoing craniotomy

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Biochemistry
• Neurology

Background:

• Serum S100B protein is a biomarker for brain tissue damage.
• Intracranial tumors require surgical intervention via craniotomy.
• Understanding S100B dynamics post-craniotomy is crucial for patient monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To measure pre- and postoperative serum S100B concentrations in patients undergoing craniotomy for intracranial tumors.
• To compare these levels with those in healthy controls.
• To assess the potential of S100B as an early indicator of neurological complications.

Main Methods:

• Observational, comparative study conducted in a neurosurgical ward.
• Serum S100B levels were analyzed preoperatively and on postoperative days 1, 2, and 7.
• Statistical comparison using Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon tests with significance at p < 0.05.

Main Results:

• Patients with intracranial tumors exhibited significantly higher preoperative S100B levels (0.19 ± 0.12 μg/L) than controls (0.03 ± 0.01 μg/L, p < 0.0005).
• Postoperative S100B concentrations significantly increased on day 1 (0.90 ± 1.07 μg/L) and remained elevated on day 2 (0.84 ± 0.57 μg/L), before declining on day 7 (0.44 ± 0.43 μg/L).
• All postoperative samples showed significantly higher S100B levels compared to preoperative samples.

Conclusions:

• Elevated postoperative S100B concentrations are likely due to surgical-induced tissue damage.
• A sustained high S100B level from postoperative day 1 to day 2 may serve as an early warning for neurological deterioration.
• S100B monitoring could aid in the early detection of brain tissue injury following craniotomy.