Assessment of S100β in Patients with Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy

Aim: Assess the serum levels of S100β in the diagnosis of hepatic encephalopathy and its sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of different types of hepatic encephalopathy. Also, compare these results with ammonia levels in the same groups of patients. Patients and Methods: It was a cross-sectional study carried out on 60 patients (36 males and 24 females) of hepatic cirrhosis post chronic hepatitis C viral infection along with 60 ages and sex-matched healthy subjects (34 males and 26 females). The patients group classified into; Compensated group, Decompensated with covert hepatic encephalopathy group, and Decompensated with grade I-II hepatic encephalopathy. The studied groups were subjected to thorough clinical history and examination, neuropsychological testing, plasma ammonia level, and serum S100β. Results: There was a significant increase of S100β throughout the studied groups (16.75, 38.15, 57.00, and 86.20 ng/ml), P-value 77.5 ng/ml has a sensitivity of 80% and specificity of 85% for hepatic encephalopathy diagnosis while plasma ammonia >165 ug/dl sensitivity of 75% and specificity of 100%. S100β >42 ng/ml has a sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 65% for the diagnosis of covert hepatic encephalopathy while plasma ammonia >92 ug/dl with the sensitivity of 65% and specificity of 75%. Conclusion: S100β candidate to be diagnostic serum marker of minimal hepatic encephalopathy.