Serum S100B in pregnancy complicated by preeclampsia: A case-control study

Background: Serum S100B is a protein produced and released primarily by astrocytes of the Central Nervous System (CNS). Elevated levels of serum S100B are associated with several types of pathological conditions of the brain, including the eclampsia in pregnant women. The aim of this study was to compare serum S100B concentrations in pregnant women with severe and mild preeclampsia (PE) with S100B serum levels in normotensive pregnant women. Material and methods: Serum S100B protein was measured in normotensive pregnant women (n = 15) and in women with mild PE (n = 12) or severe PE (n = 34). The serum S100B level (mu g/L) was determined by an luminometric assay. Results: Sixty-one expectant mothers were studied, aged 26.6 +/- 8.7 (mean +/- SD) years and with a gestational age of 33.3 +/- 4.2 weeks. The severe PE group demonstrated higher S100B levels (0.20 +/- 0.19), as compared with mild PE (0.07 +/- 0.05) or normotensive groups (0.04 +/- 0.05). Conclusion: Elevated serum S100B levels in pregnant women with severe PE suggest that some kind of neural damage and subsequent astrocytic release of S100B is not dependent on the progression from severe preeclampsia to eclampsia. (C) 2011 International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.