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The clinical and diagnostic utility of S100B in preterm newborns
Laura D Serpero1, Francesca Pluchinotta2, Diego Gazzolo1
1Dept. of Maternal Fetal and Neonatal Medicine C. Arrigo Children's Hospital, Alessandria, Italy.
Insights
Detecting early brain damage in preterm infants is crucial. The brain-specific protein S100B shows promise as a reliable marker for identifying subclinical brain injury in high-risk newborns.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal neurology
- Perinatal medicine
- Biomarker research
Background:
- Preterm birth is a leading cause of infant mortality and neurological issues.
- Neurological abnormalities often manifest within the first week of life.
- Early detection of brain damage in high-risk infants remains challenging, especially when imaging is inconclusive.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent findings on the role of S100B protein.
- To assess S100B as a marker for brain development and damage in preterm infants.
- To highlight S100B's potential for detecting subclinical brain lesions.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on S100B protein assays.
- Analysis of S100B levels in biological fluids of preterm neonates.
- Correlation of S100B levels with neurological outcomes and brain damage.
Main Results:
- S100B protein assays provide valuable insights into brain function and damage during the perinatal period.
- S100B has demonstrated utility in identifying subclinical brain lesions.
- Recent findings support S100B's reliability in assessing brain development and injury in high-risk preterm infants.
Conclusions:
- S100B protein is a promising biomarker for early detection of brain damage in preterm infants.
- Measuring S100B can help identify at-risk neonates before clinical or radiological signs appear.
- Further research can refine the use of S100B for improved perinatal neurological care.
Abstract:
Preterm birth is still the most important cause of perinatal mortality and morbidity. Follow-up studies showed that the majority of neurological abnormalities during childhood are already present in the first week after birth. In this light, the knowledge of the timing of the insult and/or of the contributing factors is of utmost relevance in order to avoid adverse neurological outcome. Notwithstanding, the considerable advances in perinatal clinical care and monitoring, the early detection of cases at risk for brain damage is still a challenge because, when radiological pictures are still negative, brain damage may be already at a subclinical stage, with symptoms hidden by therapeutic strategies. Thus, it could be very relevant to measure quantitative parameters, such as neuroproteins, able to detect subclinical lesions at a stage when routine brain monitoring procedures are still silent. In the last decade, the assay of the brain-specific protein S100B in different biological fluids proved useful information on brain function and damage in the perinatal period. Therefore, the present study provides an overview of the most recent findings on S100B role as a reliable marker of brain development/damage in preterm high risk fetuses and newborns.
