Ability of S100B to predict post-concussion syndrome in paediatric patients who present to the emergency department with mild traumatic brain injury

• Published in: British journal of neurosurgery Vol. 37; no. 1; pp. 53 - 58
• Main Authors: Kelmendi, Fatos M., Morina, Arsim A., Mekaj, Agon Y., Dragusha, Shefki, Ahmeti, Feti, Alimehmeti, Ridvan, Morina, Qamile, Berisha, Murat, Krasniqi, Blerim, Kerolli, Berat
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 01.02.2023; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Brain Concussion - complications; Brain Concussion - diagnosis; Child; Craniocerebral Trauma; Emergency Service, Hospital; head CT; Head injuries; Humans; mild traumatic brain injury; paediatric population; Pediatrics; Post-concussion syndrome; Post-Concussion Syndrome - diagnosis; Prospective Studies; Proteins; S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit; Traumatic brain injury; paediatric population; Post-concussion syndrome; mild traumatic brain injury; head CT
• ISSN: 0268-8697; 1360-046X
• DOI: 10.1080/02688697.2021.1878487

Among children who sustain mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), 10-30% develop a cluster of cognitive, physical, and emotional symptoms commonly referred to as post-concussion syndrome (PCS). Symptoms typically resolve within 7-10 days, but a minority of patients report symptoms that persist for months or even years. The aim of our study was to identify a neurobiochemical marker after mTBI that can predict the presence of post-concussion syndrome three months after head injury in paediatric patients. Children between 7 and 16 years of age who had head trauma and no other complaints were included. Three months after the initial visit, participants or parents/guardians were interviewed in person about the children's PCS symptoms using the Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire (RPQ). The mean value of S100B protein in serum in 38 patients without signs of PCS was 0.266 μg L −1 , with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 0.221 − 0.310 μg L −1 . Among the 22 patients with signs of PCS, the mean value of S100B protein in serum was 0.845 μg L −1 , with a 95% CI of 0.745-0.945 μg L −1 . Patients with signs of PCS had higher S100B protein levels than those without signs of PCS (p < 0.0001). Our prospective study showed that S100B protein is a useful neurobiomarker for detecting paediatric patients at risk for post-concussion syndrome. We found that the biomarker S100B correlated with the severity of traumatic brain injury (number of lesions on CT) and the presence of post-concussion syndrome.