Cirrhosis represents the terminal stage of a number of chronic liver diseases. Consequences include accumulation of toxic metabolic wastes, reduced synthesis of key proteins, increased portal venous pressure, and portosystemic shunting. We conducted a case-control study to assess the serum levels of S100B protein and parameters of oxidative stress, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and oxidative stress measured by the thiobarbituric acid method (TBARS), in a group of 14 pediatric patients with cirrhosis. No differences were found between groups in S100B protein levels. SOD activity and TBARS levels were higher; and CAT activity was lower in the cirrhotic group. A negative correlation between S100B and TBARS in the case group was found (r = -0.815, p = 0.001).
Conclusions: This study didn't indicate a possible role of S100B serum levels as marker of brain damage in cirrhotic children but suggest a possible relation between astrocyte function and oxidative damage in cirrhotic children.