Does bungee jumping release S-100B protein?

The S-100B protein is a recognised indicator of traumatic brain damage, but the impact threshold at which S-100B is released into serum still remains unknown. The aim of the study was to investigate whether moderate shear forces are able to release S-100B into serum in people who did a bungee jump. Eleven healthy probands jumped from a height of 50 microm and were exposed to an acceleration of about 2.8 g. Blood samples were drawn before the jump, immediately after and 71 min (mean) after the jump. The initial serum values of S-100B of all probands were normal (mean 0.22 microg/l). Also the serum values directly after and 71-min (mean) after the jump showed no increase of S-100B (0.22 microg/l and 0.23 microg/l, mean). This finding indicates that a moderate acceleration and deceleration force to the brain does not activate the release of the protein S-100B into the serum. Copyright 2002 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.