Background: We investigated the levels of S100B protein in the serum of patients with neural tube defects (NTD), and the ontogenetic variation on this group of patients.
Methods: Samples from 24 control individuals and 25 patients with NTD were studied. S100B protein levels were determined using LIA-mat Sangtec kit.
Results: We observed no difference between the levels of S100B in NTD patients (median 0.860 microg/l) and control individuals (median 0.580 microg/l). When groups were classified according to age, decreased levels were observed in subjects > or = 4 y compared to the younger ones, on the control group; no significant difference was observed when the same comparison is performed on the group of patients with NTD.
Conclusions: This study indicates that the serum concentration of S100B in patients with NTD is similar to that of normal individuals; however, patients with NTD do not show the negative correlation with age which was observed on normal individuals.