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Updated: Jul 21, 2025
Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
Biochemical and Anthropometric Parameters for the Early Recognition of the Intrauterine Growth Restriction and
Maria Cristina Aisa1,2,3, Benito Cappuccini2, Alessandro Favilli1,2,3
1Department of Surgical and Biomedical Sciences, Section of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Perugia, 06129 Perugia, Italy.
Insights
Urinary S100B and Tau levels in newborns can predict future neurodevelopmental delays. Higher S100B and lower Tau in preterm and IUGR infants indicate potential cognitive and motor impairments.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Science
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- S100B and Tau proteins are linked to brain development and injury.
- Investigating urinary levels of S100B and Tau in newborns may predict neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the relationship between urinary S100B and Tau levels in newborns and their neurodevelopmental outcomes at two years of age.
- To explore the correlation of these urinary markers with brain volumes and nerve growth factor (NGF).
Main Methods:
- Urinary S100B and Tau levels were measured in 30-40-day-old infants (full-term, preterm, IUGR, preterm-IUGR).
- Neuro-behavioral outcomes were assessed at two years using the Griffiths III test.
- Brain volumes and urinary NGF were also evaluated.
Main Results:
- Infants with delayed neurodevelopment (preterm, IUGR, preterm-IUGR) showed higher S100B and lower Tau levels.
- These infants also had reduced brain volumes and urinary NGF.
- S100B and Tau levels correlated weakly with brain volumes, unlike NGF.
Conclusions:
- Anomalous urinary S100B and Tau levels in early infancy are associated with delayed cognitive and motor performance.
- Urinary S100B and Tau, alongside brain volume and NGF, are potential biomarkers for early detection of neurodevelopmental abnormalities.
Background:
S100B and Tau are implicated with both brain growth and injury. Their urinary levels in 30-to-40-day-old full-term, preterm, IUGR, and preterm-IUGR subjects were measured to investigate their possible relationship with future delayed neurodevelopment.
Methods:
Values were related to the neuro-behavioral outcome at two years of age, as well as to brain volumes and urinary NGF assessed at the same postnatal time point.
Results:
Using the Griffiths III test, cognitive and motor performances were determined to establish subgroups characterized by either normal or impaired neuro-behavior. The latter included preterm, IUGR, and preterm-IUGR individuals who exhibited significantly higher and lower S100B and Tau levels, respectively, along with markedly reduced cerebral volumes and urinary NGF, as previously demonstrated. Contrary to NGF, however, Tau and S100B displayed a weak correlation with brain volumes.
Conclusions:
Delayed cognitive and motor performances observed in two-year-old preterm and IUGR-born individuals were also found to be associated with anomalous urinary levels of S100B and Tau, assessed at 30-40 days of the postnatal period, and their changes did not correlate with brain growth. Thus, our data suggests that, in addition to cerebral volumes and NGF, urinary S100B and Tau can also be considered as valuable parameters for the early detection of future neurodevelopmental abnormalities.
