Elevated serum S100B levels in medication naïve children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a condition characterized by obsessions and/or compulsions. S100B protein is shown to be involved in microglial activation besides intracellular signaling, intercellular communication and cell growth. The relation between S100B protein and various psychiatric disorders except OCD has been studied so far. This study aimed to analyze serum S100B levels for the first time in medication naive OCD diagnosed children and adolescents and to compare them with the control group.

Peripheral blood S100B levels of 27 children and adolescents with OCD were compared to 27 control group subjects to assess any possible association between OCD and S100B levels. All the children and adolescents completed the child version of the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory (OCI - CV).

Compared to control group, higher serum S100B levels were found in OCD group (z = -2.258, p = 0.024). We also found that obsessing and washing subscales' scores and total score of OCI - CV were statistically significantly correlated with S100B levels (respectively, r = .292, p = 0.032; r = .306, p = 0.025; r = .296, p = 0.030).

The present study's findings are in accord with previous studies demonstrating the significance of S100B protein in other psychiatric disorders and suggesting a relation in children and adolescents with OCD for the first time. The role of S100B protein in OCD etiology and pathogenesis should be evaluated further.