Plasma Fibronectin Concentration in the Premature, Fullterm Neonates and Infants

Lee, Hyun Joo; Kim, Kyung Hyo; Kim, Gyoung Hee

Abstract

PURPOSE: Plasma fibronectin has important role in the inflammatory response as non-specific opsonin and host defense. Plasma fibronectin concentration is different according to age and presence of infection. We performed this study to evalulate plasma fibronectin concentration in the healthy preterm, term neonates and infants and how that correlate with gestational age and birth weight and increased CRP concentration.
METHODS
Sixteen preterm, ninety full term babies and ninety infants were studied who admitted to Ewha University Tongdaemun Hospital from 1994 March to 1996 April. The concentration of plasma fibronectin was studied in each groups by turbidometric immunoassay and CRP was checked in 90 infants by flourescene polarization immunoassay.
RESULTS
1) The concentration of plasma fibronectin was 200.6+/-51.2microgram/dl in preterm babies, 227.8+/-58.4microgram/dl in term babies, 247.6+/-59.9microgram/dl in 69 infants, and 380.6+/-91.7microgram/dl in adults. The level of plasma fibronectin was different in each age group (p<0.05). 2) The concentration of plasma fibronectin was 200.6+/-51.2microgram/dl in preterm babies and 227.8+/-58.4microgram/dl in term babies (p<0.05). And it was 195.3+/-35.8microgram/dl in neonates with less than 2.5kg of birth weight and 228.8+/-58.3microgram/dl in neonates with more than 2.5kg of birth weight (p<0.05). 3) The concentration of plasma fibronectin was 265.0+/-54.4microgram/dl in CRP negative infants and 198.8+/-50.5microgram/dl in CRP positive infants and it was significantly different between two groups.
CONCLUSIONS
This result shows that the concentration of plasma fibronectin is different in different ages groups, birth weight and increased CRP concentration.