To study the correlation of serum S-100 protein level with the severity of stroke and its prognostic implication

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated correlation between mortality, stroke subtype and stroke severity with serum S-100 protein level prior to the treatment of the patients admitted to the emergency department and diagnosed with a stroke. METHODS: Pretreatment sample were collected from the patients (n = 142) to determine S-100 protein level, age and sex-matched healthy individuals (n = 40) served as control. All patients had cranial computerized tomography scan/magnetic resonance imaging in the first 24 h. The neurological evaluation was made with the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) in the acute stage. RESULTS: Compared with controls, S-100 protein level were significantly higher in the stroke groups. In stroke groups, S-100 protein level was more significantly higher in the ischemic group than hemorrhage and transient ischemic attack group and highest in expired patients. CONCLUSION: Serum S-100 protein measurement can be used as an early marker of brain damage. There is a role of S-100 protein as a co-predictor of outcome in patients with acute stroke.