title: Biomarkers in septic encephalopathy: a systematic review of clinical studies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to systematically review the importance of neuron-specific enolase and S100 beta for diagnosing and monitoring septic encephalopathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A PubMed database search was performed to identify studies that evaluated S100 beta and neuron-specific enolase serum levels in patients with sepsis and that were published between January 2000 and April 2012. Only human studies that employed an additional method of neurological assessment were selected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine studies were identified, seven of which associated high concentrations of S100 beta and neuron-specific enolase with the development of septic encephalopathy. Four studies also associated these concentrations with increased mortality. However, two studies did not find such an association when they evaluated S100 beta levels, and one of these studies did not observe a correlation between neuron-specific enolase and septic encephalopathy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  S100 beta and neuron-specific enolase are promising biomarkers for diagnosing and monitoring patients with septic encephalopathy, but more research is necessary.
authors.affiliation: Academic Medical Course, Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública - Salvador, Brazil. pvzenaide@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Paula Veriato
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Zenaide
authors.forename: Dimitri
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gusmao-Flores
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000097:blood*; D064568:S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit / Q000097:blood*; D018805:Sepsis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D065166:Sepsis-Associated Encephalopathy / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D064568:S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase