BACKGROUND: Brain S100B assessment in maternal blood has been proposed as a useful tool for early perinatal brain damage detection. Among potential confounding factors the possibility of a protein gradient between maternal and fetal bloodstreams under pathophysiological conditions is consistent. The present study investigates in healthy and small gestational age fetuses (SGA) whether S100B concentrations differ among fetal and maternal bloodstreams. METHODS: We conducted a case-control study in 160 pregnancies (SGA: n=80; healthy: n=80), in which standard monitoring parameters were recorded. S100B was assessed in arterial cord and in maternal blood samples at birth. Eighty non pregnant women (NP), matched for age at sampling, served as controls (1 SGA vs. 1 healthy vs. 1 NP). RESULTS: Fetal S100B in SGA and healthy groups was significantly higher (P<0.01) than that detected in the maternal district and in NP women groups, respectively. No differences in protein's gradient between fetal and maternal bloodstreams (P>0.05) were observed between groups. No differences (P>0.05) in fetal S100B have been found between the studied groups. Maternal S100B of SGA and healthy groups was significantly higher (P<0.01) than that detected in NP women. No differences in maternal S100B concentrations (P>0.05) were observed between SGA and control groups. CONCLUSION: The present study shows that S100B is pregnancy-dependent with the presence of a protein's gradient between fetal and maternal bloodstreams. The present data suggests that non-invasive fetal brain monitoring is becoming possible in opening a new cue on further investigations on S100B fetal/maternal gradient changes under pathological conditions.
BACKGROUND: Brain S100B assessment in maternal blood has been proposed as a useful tool for early perinatal brain damage detection. Among potential confounding factors the possibility of a protein gradient between maternal and fetal bloodstreams under pathophysiological conditions is consistent. The present study investigates in healthy and small gestational age fetuses (SGA) whether S100B concentrations differ among fetal and maternal bloodstreams. METHODS: We conducted a case-control study in 160 pregnancies (SGA: n=80; healthy: n=80), in which standard monitoring parameters were recorded. S100B was assessed in arterial cord and in maternal blood samples at birth. Eighty non pregnant women (NP), matched for age at sampling, served as controls (1 SGA vs. 1 healthy vs. 1 NP). RESULTS: Fetal S100B in SGA and healthy groups was significantly higher (P<0.01) than that detected in the maternal district and in NP women groups, respectively. No differences in protein's gradient between fetal and maternal bloodstreams (P>0.05) were observed between groups. No differences (P>0.05) in fetal S100B have been found between the studied groups. Maternal S100B of SGA and healthy groups was significantly higher (P<0.01) than that detected in NP women. No differences in maternal S100B concentrations (P>0.05) were observed between SGA and control groups. CONCLUSION: The present study shows that S100B is pregnancy-dependent with the presence of a protein's gradient between fetal and maternal bloodstreams. The present data suggests that non-invasive fetal brain monitoring is becoming possible in opening a new cue on further investigations on S100B fetal/maternal gradient changes under pathological conditions.
Authors: Laura Abella; Ebe D'Adamo; Mariachiara Strozzi; Joan Sanchez-de-Toledo; Miriam Perez-Cruz; Olga Gómez; Ernesto Abella; Maurizio Cassinari; Roberto Guaschino; Laura Mazzucco; Antonio Maconi; Stefania Testa; Cristian Zanelli; Marika Perrotta; Patacchiola Roberta; Neri Costanza Renata; Giorgia Gasparroni; Ester Vitacolonna; Francesco Chiarelli; Diego Gazzolo Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-01-18 Impact factor: 3.390