Can low serum levels of S100B predict normal CT findings after minor head injury in adults?: an evidence-based review and meta-analysis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether low levels of S100B in serum can predict normal computed tomography (CT) findings after minor head injury (MHI) in adults.


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
Systematic evidence-based review of the peer-reviewed literature with meta-analytical interpretation.


METHODS
Not applicable.


RESULTS
We identified 12 eligible articles that specifically studied adult MHI patients with S100B and cranial CT scans in the acute phase after injury, comprising a total of 2466 separate patients. Individual negative predictive values of 90% to 100% were found for the ability of a negative (under cutoff) S100B level to predict a normal CT scan. A total of 6 patients included in the studies had low S100B levels and positive CT scans (0.26%) and only 1 of these patients (0.04%) had a clinically relevant CT finding. The pooled negative predictive value for all studies was more than 99% (95% CI 98%-100%), with an average prevalence for any CT finding at 8%. The studies are consistently classed as level 2 and level 3 grades of evidence, suggesting a grade B recommendation.


CONCLUSIONS
Low serum S100B levels accurately predict normal CT findings after MHI in adults. S100B sampling should be considered in MHI patients with no focal neurological deficit, an absence of significant extracerebral injury, should be taken within 3 hours of injury, and the cutoff for omitting CT set at less than 0.10 microg/L. Care givers should also be aware of other clinical factors predictive of intracranial complications after MHI.
Undén
Johan
J
Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Halmstad Regional Hospital, Halmstad, Sweden. johan.unden@Ithalland.se
Romner
Bertil
B
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000097:blood*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D064568:S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D015415:Biomarkers; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D064568:S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit; D009418:S100 Proteins; C579160:S100B protein, human