S100B urine levels are gestational age, birthweight, delivery mode and gender-dependent in healthy newborns.

OBJECTIVES

The inclusion of neurobiomarkers (NB) into routine clinical practice remains an unresolved challenge. Among the actions recommended by leading international institutions, a key priority is the establishment of reference curves during the perinatal period. The aim of the study was to define urinary reference ranges during the perinatal period for S100B, a well-established biomarker of central nervous system (CNS) development and injury.

METHODS

Between May 2015 and January 2020, we conducted a prospective observational study in 2,168 healthy preterm and term newborns. Standard clinical and laboratory parameters were recorded at birth, and urine samples were collected within the first 24 h for S100B measurement. Correlations between S100B levels and perinatal variables (gestational age, birthweight, mode of delivery, sex, and blood gas parameters) were evaluated using multiple regression analysis.

RESULTS

S100B concentrations were significantly higher (p<0.05, for all) in preterm than in term infants, even after adjustment for sex and mode of delivery. Multiple regression analysis revealed that S100B levels were gestational age (GA), sex, and mode of delivery dependent (p<0.05 for all).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings provide a reference curve for urinary S100B during the perinatal period, supporting its potential as a non-invasive tool for fetal CNS monitoring and facilitating its future integration into routine clinical practice.