RELATIONSHIP OF FIBRONECTIN TO C-REACTIVE PROTEIN, CERULOPLASMIN, ALPHA-1-ANTITRYPSIN, AND TRANSFERRIN IN SEPTICEMIC CHILDREN

We investigated the relationship between plasma levels of fibronectin and other acute-phase reactant proteins such as C-reactive protein, al pha-1 antitrypsin, ceruloplasmin, and transferrin in children with sev ere septicemia. The study included 33 septicemic patients and 10 norma l children. Mean plasma fibronectin level was significantly lower in p atients on admission (204.7 +/- 57.3 mg/dl), and was higher after reco very (349.3+/-89 mg/dl), than in normal children (300.2+/-65 mg/dl). N o significant difference was found between the mean plasma fibronectin levels of patients with and without meningitis. After the recovery, f ibronectin correlated positively with age: No correlation was found be tween plasma fibronectin and C-reactive protein, transferrin, cerulopl asmin, or alpha-1 antitrypsin levels at any stage of the disease. We c oncluded that fibronectin has no modulating effect on acute-phase resp onses of these proteins in severe septicemia.