HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS REGISTER		Author Keyword(s) Vol Page [Advanced]

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this link to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Add article to my folders Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Stålnacke, B-M Articles by Sojka, P Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Stålnacke, B-M Articles by Sojka, P

Serum concentrations of two biochemical markers of brain tissue damage S-100B and neurone specific enolase are increased in elite female soccer players after a competitive game

¹ Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Umeå, Umeå, Sweden
² Department of Surgical and Perioperative Science, Sports Medicine, University of Umeå
³ Department of Health Sciences, Luleå Technical University, Boden, Sweden

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr Stålnacke
Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Umeå, Umeå 901 85, Sweden; brittmarie.stalnacke{at}rehabmed.umu.se

Background: It is a matter of debate whether or not ordinary heading of the ball in soccer causes injury to brain tissue.

Objective: To analyse concentrations of the biochemical markers of brain tissue damage S-100B and neurone specific enolase (NSE) in serum of female elite soccer players in association with a competitive game.

Methods: Venous blood samples were obtained from 44 female soccer players before and after a competitive game for analysis. The number of headers and trauma events (falls, collisions, etc) was assessed from videotape recordings for each player.

Results: Concentrations of both brain damage markers were increased after the game (S-100B, 0.18 (0.11) v 0.11 (0.05) µg/l (p = 0.000); NSE, 10.14 (1.74) v 9.05 (1.59) µg/l (p = 0.001)). There was a significant correlation between changes in S-100B concentrations and both the number of headers (r = 0.430, p = 0.004) and the number of other trauma events (r = 0.517, p<0.001).

Conclusion: The concentrations of both S-100B and NSE were increased by game associated activities and events. The increases in S-100B concentration were significantly related to the number of headers and other trauma events, which indicates that both these factors may have contributed to these increases.

Abbreviations: MTBI, mild traumatic brain injury; NSE, neurone specific enolase

Keywords: brain injury; biochemical markers; concussion; soccer

This article has been cited by other articles:

				H. Zetterberg, M. Jonsson, A. Rasulzada, C. Popa, E. Styrud, M. A. Hietala, L. Rosengren, A. Wallin, and K. Blennow No neurochemical evidence for brain injury caused by heading in soccer Br. J. Sports Med., September 1, 2007; 41(9): 574 - 577. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]