Serum S100B protein and neuron-specific enolase: are predictors of cerebral damage in cardiac surgery?

Cardiac surgery correlate with a high incidence of perioperative cerebral complications. It is reported SIOOB protein and neuron -specific enolase （NSE） are predictors of cerebral damage in cardiovascular surgery. They are released after cardiac surgery performed under cardiopulmonary bypass （CPB） and their levels are correlated with the duration of CPB, deep circulatory arrest and aortic cross -clamping. Perioperative cerebral complications such as stroke, delayed awakening and confusion are associated with increased levels of S100 protein and NSE. In addition, increased levels of S100 protein are also related to neuropsychological dysfunction after cardiac surgery. But recently several researches reported that a large part of the increases in SIOOB protein and NSE during CPB was not attributed to neuronal damage, but to contamination with the blood from the surgical field. To determine whether these markers are useful to predict neurologic complications, it will be necessary to exclude all factors that might have any influence on their levels. Key words: cardiac surgery;  cardiopulmonary bypass;  cerebral injury;  serum SIO0 protein;  cerebral enzymology