Background: It has been determined that cannabis has adverse effects on brain tissue, and that increased S100 calcium binding protein B (S100B) blood levels are markers of neuronal damage. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the S100B levels in cannabis use disorder.
Method: Thirty-two patients with cannabis use disorder and 31 matched healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Appropriate blood samples were taken from the enrolled subjects, and the serum S100B protein levels were measured with an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay for the quantification of the protein.
Findings: We found significantly increased S100B protein levels in patients with cannabis use disorder. The mean serum concentration of S100B was 0.081 ± 0.018 μg/l in patients with cannabis use disorder, and 0.069 ± 0.018 μg/l in the control group (p = 0.008).
Interpretation: Our data suggest that elevated S100B protein levels might indicate neuronal damage in the brains of people with cannabis use disorder.
© 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel.