Serum S-100 protein levels in children with Henoch-Schonlein syndrome and its clinical significance

Abstract

Seventy eight children with Henoch-Schonlein syndrome (HSP) admitted in our hospital from October 2013 to April 2015 were enrolled in this study, and 30 healthy children were also enrolled as controls. The serum S-100 protein levels were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in two groups; and electroencephalogram (EEG) examination was performed in HSP patients. The serum S-100 protein level of HSP group (0.206±0.101) μg/L was significantly higher than that in the normal control group [(0.060±0.042) μg/L, P<0.001]; and the serum S-100 protein levels in patients with kidney type (0.284±0.099) μg/L and mixed type [(0.284±0.043) μg/L, P<0.01] were higher than those in patients with skin type (0.151±0.098) μg/L, gastrointestinal type (0.138±0.036) μg/L and joint type [(0.117±0.065) μg/L, P<0.001]. Abnormal EEG findings were detected in 52 cases (66.7%), however, no clinical manifestations of nervous system were found in those patients. Serum S-100 protein levels were higher in patients with abnormal EEG than those with normal EEG [(0.223±0.099) μg/L vs. (0.173±0.096) μg/L, P<0.05]. The results suggest that the serum S-100 protein is associated with HSP disease severity, and children with HSP may have subclinical neurological damage. Key words: Schonlein-Henoch; S100 Protein; Child