Fibronectin is a key modulator of the immune response with
important functions in neutrophil adhesion, bacterial opsonization,
T cell activation and vascular integrity. Acute depletion of
plasma fibronectin during sepsis in newborn infants may further
diminish their ability to control sepsis.
Changes in plasma fibronectin concentrations were determined
in 22 newborn infants suffering from bacterial septicemia and 21
control. Concentrations were determined at birth, before sepsis
and throughout the episode of sepsis. Fibronectin concentration
at birth or immediately before sepsis were not significantly different
between those infants who developed septicemia and those who
did not (188 ± 15 p.g/m1) versus (197 s 10 jag/m1) and (199 s 26
jag/ml) versus (201 s 20 μgimp respectively. In infants with septicemia
fibronectin concentrations decreased significantly on day
1 (146 s 13 ug/m1) and remained significantly lower on day 3 (153
s 26 jag/m1) and day 5 (168 s 24 gg/m1). By day 7-9, fibronectin
concentrations had increased (197 s 36 ug/m1) and were no longer
statistically different from controls. We found also that the most
common causative organism in septicemic group was E.coli
(59.9%) than staph aureus (27.57%), streptococci (9.9%) and
kletskilla (4.5%). From our study we can conclude that fibronectin
concentrations in newborn infants can be used as a diagnostic
and prognostic test for septicemia. |
