title: S100B is a sensitive but not specific prognostic index in comatose patients after cardiac arrest.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare serum S100B levels and EEG findings as prognostic indexes in comatose (GCS<8) patients after cardiac arrest.
  
  
  METHODS
  S100B serum levels were assessed 12 h after the event and EEG findings were recorded within 24 h in comatose cardiac arrest survivors. At hospital discharge, patients were divided into groups according the Glasgow-outcome scale (GOS): group 1 with bad neurological outcome and group 2 with good neurological outcome (GOS 4-5). S100B levels and EEG findings were retrospectively tested about their predictive value.
  
  
  RESULTS
  S100B has a very low specificity (37.5%) while S100B sensitivity is 100%. EEG findings specificity is 75% and sensitivity 50%. S100B was not significantly lower in patients who recovered consciousness (10 patients) and there was no significant difference in EEGs findings between group 1 and 2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The association of serum S100B levels with EEG might be helpful when used together to formulate outcome in comatose patients within 24 h after cardiac arrest. However, increased levels of S100B 12 h after a cardiac arrest might be expression of a still amendable brain damage.
authors.affiliation: Anesthesiology and Resuscitation Unit, University of Naples II, Naples, Italy. orpiazza@unina.it
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Piazza
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cotena
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Robertis
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tufano
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003128:Coma / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D004569:Electroencephalography; D023261:Glasgow Outcome Scale; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012151:Resuscitation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D009418:S100 Proteins