The relationship between serum S100B protein and brain damage following neonatal asphyxia

Objective To investigate the relationship between S100B protein and brain damage following neonatal asphyxia.Methods Forty newborn infants with asphyxia(asphyxia group) and 40 normal newborn infants(control group) were enrolled in this study.The cord blood and serum S100B protein levels were measured on day 1,3,7 after birth.Cranial computed tomography(CCT) was performed in asphyxia group from 3 to 5 d after birth.Results Mean cord blood S100B protein levels in the asphyxia group were significantly higher than those in the control group(P0.05),but there was no statistical difference between neonates with mild asphyxia and those with severe asphyxia(P0.05).The serum S100B protein levels had no statistical difference in the infants with mild asphyxia on days 1~7 after birth(P0.05).But serum S100B protein of infants with severe asphyxia complicated by brain damage increased progressively and was significantly higher than those with mild asphyxia on day 7(P0.01).The serum S100B concentration of CCT positive infants was significantly higher than those in CCT negative infants.Conclusion Serum S100B protein level might be a valuable index for the diagnosis of neonatal asphyxia following brain damage.