Müller M, Münster JM, Hautz WE, et al. - In view of studies suggesting that extracranial injuries may result in increased S-100 B serum levels, a biomarker for traumatic brain injury, researchers here sought to quantify the impact of injury patterns on S-100 B levels in patients with suspected multiple trauma. They conducted a retrospective chart review of 1,338 patients with suspected multiple trauma treated at a Level 1 Trauma center in Switzerland. The analysis revealed increased S-100 B levels mainly in correlation with fractures and thoracic injuries. In multiple trauma patients, the head injury seemed to have only a minor role in S-100 B protein elevation. They identified a good negative predictive value of a normal S-100 B for in-hospital mortality and observed the association of S100-B levels with trauma severity. Hence, these levels seemed to be useful as a prognostic marker in trauma patients.