Serum S100B Protein Concentrations in SGA/FGR newborns

Area of Science:

• Neonatal Medicine
• Biochemistry
• Neurology

Background:

• Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is linked to chronic fetal hypoxia, poor perinatal outcomes, and increased mortality.
• Currently, reliable methods for detecting central nervous system (CNS) cell damage in FGR infants are lacking.
• S100B protein, an acidic calcium-binding protein, is a recognized biomarker for CNS damage in infants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To measure blood S100B protein concentrations in newborns exhibiting small for gestational age (SGA) and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) growth patterns.
• To determine the utility of S100B as an early indicator for hypoxia-related CNS injury in neonates.

Main Methods:

• Serum S100B protein levels were analyzed in cord blood from 88 SGA and 80 AGA newborns.
• Maternal medical records were reviewed for factors like pregnancy-induced hypertension, preeclampsia, smoking, and umbilical artery (UA) Doppler findings.

Main Results:

• SGA newborns exhibited significantly higher median S100B concentrations compared to AGA controls (p < 0.001).
• In SGA neonates, cord blood S100B levels were significantly elevated compared to AGA newborns, irrespective of prenatal UA Doppler findings (p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

• Elevated S100B levels in cord blood of SGA newborns may serve as an early indicator.
• This biomarker could aid in identifying infants at increased risk for postnatal neurological disturbances.