Increased serum S-100B and neuron specific enolase — Potential markers of early nervous system involvement in essential hypertension

• Published in: Clinical biochemistry Vol. 44; no. 2; pp. 154 - 159
• Main Authors: González-Quevedo, Alina, García, Sergio González, Concepción, Otman Fernández, Freixas, Rosaralis Santiesteban, Sotolongo, Luis Quevedo, Menéndez, Maria Caridad, Sánchez, Marisol Peña, Almirall, Isabel Fernández, Carriera, Rebeca Fernández, Díaz, Zenaida Hernández, Menéndez, Keiny
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Inc 01.02.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Arterial hypertension. Arterial hypotension; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - blood; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cerebrovascular disease; Humans; Hypertension; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); Medical sciences; Neuron specific enolase; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase - blood; Retinopathy; S-100B; S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit; S100 Proteins - blood; Hypertension; S-100B; Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); Neuron specific enolase; Retinopathy; Cerebrovascular disease; Human; Nervous system diseases; Protein S 100B; Biological marker; Cardiovascular disease; Vitronectin; Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging; Cerebral disorder; Immunological method; Eye disease; Central nervous system disease; Clinical biology; Medical imagery; Complication; Serum
• ISSN: 0009-9120; 1873-2933
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2010.11.006

To investigate the occurrence of subclinical neurologic involvement in patients with essential hypertension employing serum biochemical markers. Fifty patients with essential hypertension and 42 controls with no clinical evidence of neurological disease were recruited. Serum S100B protein and neuron specific enolase (NSE) were determined by employing immunoassay kits from CanAg Diagnostics AB (Sweden). Brain MRI and fundoscopic exploration were conducted. S-100B and NSE levels were significantly higher in hypertensive patients than in controls. In hypertensive patients, multivariate analysis revealed that NSE was independently associated with two variables expressing severity of hypertension: diastolic blood pressure and grade of retinopathy. Brain MRI studies demonstrated higher NSE levels in patients with more severe white matter lesions. Raised NSE levels are associated with a higher severity of hypertension and of white matter lesions, providing preliminary evidence that suggests the presence of silent brain damage in a subset of hypertensive patients.