Rapid evaluation of S-100 serum levels. Case report and comparison to previous results

The aim of this case report is to describe the time course of S-100 serum l evels of a patient, after severe head injury, whose blood sample could be d rawn very soon after injury. The results were compared to a group of patien ts in which a correlation between S-100 serum levels and outcome after trau matic brain injury could be demonstrated. Blood samples were taken on admis sion (mean 2.3 hours), 6, 12 and 24 hours after trauma and then every 24 ho urs up until and including the fifth day. The outcome was estimated on disc harge using the Glasgow Outcome Scale. The S-100 serum level of the patient described in the case report with a favourable outcome had initially risen to 10.0 mu g/l and showed a rapid decline. In the previous group, patients with unfavourable outcome had a S-100 serum level of 7 mu g/l mean concern ing the fuse probe (after 2.3 hours mean) compared to 1.5 mu g/l mean (afte r 2.23 hours mean) in patients with favourable outcome (p < 0.05). In compa rison to the literature, there seems to be differences regarding the enzyme liberation in stroke and head injury. Therefore, S-100 serum levels need t o be interpreted with regard to collection time and underlying pathology.