Abstract
BACKGROUND: Acute spinal cord injury (ASCI) leads to severe neurological deficits with limited prognostic biomarkers. However, S100-beta (S100B), a calcium-binding protein, emerges as a beacon of hope, showing potential as a serological marker of ASCI severity and recovery, inspiring further research and exploration in this field. METHODS: This prospective case-control study included 26 patients with ASCI and 26 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Serum S100B levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) at baseline, two, and six weeks. Neurological recovery was evaluated using the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale. RESULTS: Serum S100B levels in ASCI patients were significantly higher than controls at baseline (0.95 ± 0.16 µg/L vs. 0.028 ± 0.02 µg/L; p < 0.05) and at two weeks (p < 0.05). Levels normalized after six weeks (p > 0.05). Also, when comparing serum S100B levels among cases, it was higher in paraplegia than in the paraparesis group. Elevated serum S100B levels correlated with greater injury severity and poorer neurological outcomes. CONCLUSION: S100B is a promising biomarker for early ASCI severity and recovery. However, further large-scale studies are required to establish its clinical utility.