Acute decompression illness and serum s100beta levels: a prospective observational pilot study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: S100beta, a calcium binding protein associated with astroglial cells and other tissues has been shown to be raised in the serum of patients with a number of neurological pathologies. As there are no published data on serum S100beta determinations in recreational divers affected by decompression illness (DCI) this pilot study determines whether S100beta is a possible biochemical marker of DCI worthy of further investigation. METHODS: Venous blood samples were drawn from patients diagnosed with, and treated for acute DCI at a hyperbaric facility and analysed for serum S100beta concentration and Creatine Kinase (CK) activity. Samples were taken at initial presentation, and again following final treatment. RESULTS: Twenty one patients were included in the study. Neither S100beta, nor CK levels were significantly raised above population normal limits. CONCLUSION: S100beta is not a clinically useful serum marker of acute DCI.