Playing ice hockey and basketball increases serum levels of S-100B in elite players : a pilot study

• Objective: To investigate changes in serum concentrations of the biochemical markers of brain damage S-100B and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in ice hockey and basketball players during games. Design: Descriptive clinical research. Setting: Competitive games of the Swedish Elite Ice Hockey League and the Swedish Elite Basketball League. Participants: Twenty-six male ice hockey players (from two teams) and 18 basketball players (from two teams). Interventions: None. Main Outcome Measures: S-100B and NSE were analyzed using two-site immunoluminometric assays. The numbers of acceleration/deceleration events were assessed from videotape recordings of the games. Head trauma-related symptoms were monitored 24 hours after the game using the Rivermead Post Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire. Results: Changes in serum concentrations of S-100B (postgame - pregame values) were statistically significant after both games (ice hockey, 0.072 +/- 0.108 [mu]g/L, P = 0.00004; basketball, 0.076 +/- 0.091 [mu]g/L, P = 0.001). In basketball, there was a significant correlation between the change in S-100B (postgame - pregame values) and jumps, which were the most frequent acceleration/deceleration (r = 0.706, P = 0.002). For NSE, no statistically significant change in serum concentration was found in either game. For one ice hockey player who experienced concussion during play, S-100B was increased more than for the other players.Conclusions: S-100B was released into the blood of the players as a consequence of game-related activities and events. Analysis of the biochemical brain damage markers (in particular S-100B) seems to have the potential to become a valuable additional tool for assessment of the degree of brain tissue damage in sport-related head trauma and probably for decision making about returning to play.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine (hsv//eng)

Keyword

brain injury

concussion

head injury

sport

ice hockey

basketball

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)