LOW CIRCULATING LEVELS OF FIBRONECTIN IN PATIENTS WITH SEPSIS - ITS PROGNOSTIC VALUE

This prospective clinical study was performed to demonstrate the diagn ostic and prognostic role of fibronectin in septicaemia as an acute ph ase protein. The study consisted of 20 patients with septicaemia. Bloo d cultures revealed Staphylococcus aureus in 13 individuals, Streptoco ccus pneumoniae in four, and Klebsiella pneumoniae in three. Fibronect in levels were significantly lower (p<0.001) in patients with sepsis a s compared to healthy controls. The patients who responded to treatmen t had a significant increase in fibronectin levels, which did not occu r in the non-responder group. We conclude that fibronectin is a valuab le parameter for the diagnosis and prognosis of septicaemia.