title: Protein S-100b as serum marker for prediction of functional outcome in metastatic spinal cord compression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To evaluate the significance of protein S-100b as a serum marker for the prediction of functional outcome in the event of symptomatic spinal cord compression due to epidural metastases.
  
  
  METHODS
  34 patients with paresis due to metastatic spinal cord compression were included in this prospective study. Venous blood samples for protein S-100b were taken after admission and regularly after operative decompression. The individual time course of protein S-100b levels was correlated with the clinical outcome by means of motor function. Outcome was considered to be favourable in case of neurological improvement and preservation or retrieval of walking ability whereas non-improvement or further neurological deterioration without restoration of function of ambulation was regarded to be unfavourable.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with favourable outcome had serum levels of S-100b which were either normal all the time or which were initially increased but normalised within 2 to 3 days. Patients with unfavourable outcome, however, had increased levels throughout which showed either a further increase or only a slow decrease within approximately two weeks (p=0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These preliminary results suggest that, analogous to cerebral disorders, protein S-100b might be a promising serum marker to predict functional outcome in symptomatic spinal cord compression.
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgical Clinic, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. G.Marquardt@em.uni-frankfurt.de
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marquardt
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Setzer
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Seifert
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D020295:Brain Stem Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000556:secondary; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D015174:Epidural Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000556:secondary*; D006801:Humans; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function; D064568:S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D064568:S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit; D009418:S100 Proteins