S-100B Protein as a Useful Serologic Marker of Acute Stroke with Nonspecific Neurologic Symptoms

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: There is a distinct probability of severe complications with stroke unless patients are administered proper treatment at the optimal time. S-100B protein has been reported to be elevated in brain injuries. The current study investigates the efficacy of serum S-100B protein administration during the diagnostic process for patients who have had an acute stroke. METHODS: We prospectively recruited the patients with nonspecific neurological symptoms. Non-specific neurological symptoms were defined as no focal neurological deficits or stroke suspected symptoms with NIHSS score zero. We grouped the patients according to the presence of a brain lesion (positive vs negative group) by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. Using serum S-100B protein together with CT/MRI imaging at the time of diagnosis, the cutoff value, sensitivities, and specificities were calculated in making a diagnosis of acute stroke. RESULTS: Thirty one patients were enrolled. The level of serum S-100B protein was higher in positive group (median 0.201, interquartile range 0.134-0.469) than in negative group (0.085, 0.060-0.106, p=0.001). In diagnosing acute stroke, the sensitivity was 90.9% at a cutoff value for serum S-100B protein of 0.10 microgram/L . At the cutoff level of serum S-100B protein and the specificity was 75.0%. CONCLUSION: The current results suggest that serum S-100B protein may be a useful serologic marker for detecting acute stroke that is suspected with non-specific neurological abnormalities. Further studies are necessary to use the marker as a screening method for acute strokes.