ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the clinical significance and changes of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and S100 protein in blood serum in patients with enterovirus 71 infection.Methods A total of 176 children with enterovirus 71 infection admitted from March 1,2012 through October 31,2012 were enrolled for a prospective and control study.According to diagnostic criteria of the enterovirus 71 (EV71) infection instituted by expert consensus for treatment of severe patients sets in 2011,the patients were divided into three groups:mild group (n =62),severe group (n =65) and critically care group (n =49),and another 30 healthy children served as control group.The demographics of patients including age and sex were comparable between control group and the sick children groups.Four milliliter of peripheral blood were taken from ill children on the first day before treatment and on the first,second,third day after treatment.The blood samples of healthy children were taken on the first day after physical examination.At the same time,the clinical data of blood routine,blood biochemistry,myocardial enzymes and C-reactive protein during the first 24 hours were collected.Immunohistochemical technique was used to study the change of NSE and S100 levels in serum.Data were expressed in mean ± standard deviation ((x) ± s) and were statistically analyzed by using SPSS 13.0 statistical software.Comparisons were carried out among different groups with one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and between groups were performed with the Student t test.Changes were considered as statistically significant if P values was less than 0.05.Results ①Compared with mild group and control group,the levels of NSE and S100 protein were significantly higher in severe group and critically care group (P ＜0.05).②The serum levels of NSE and S100 protein in severe group were higher than in those in mild group with better outcomes (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The serum levels of NSE and S100 protein as biomarkers can be used to evaluate the severity of EV71 infection,and can also be used to determine the efficacy of treatment.