Measurement of plasma fibronectin in patients who develop the adult respiratory distress syndrome

R. J. Maunder, J. M. Harlan, P. E. Pepe, S. Paskell, C. J. Carrico, L. D. Hudson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Scopus citations

Abstract

Depletion of plasma fibronectin has been observed in certain clinical conditions predisposing to the adult respiratory distress syndrome and has been associated with cardiopulmonary dysfunction in experimental lung injury. We evaluated prospectively the relationship between plasma fibronectin concentration and the development of the adult respiratory distress syndrome in patients known to be at high risk. Although plasma fibronectin levels in participants at study entry were lower in this population (mean 258 ± 132 μg/ml) than in normal volunteers (461 ± 127 μg/ml, p < 0.0025), there was no difference between patients who subsequently developed the adult distress syndrome (mean 255 ± 149 μg/ml) and those with similar illness or injury who did not develop the syndrome (260 ± 126 μg/ml). Fibronectin concentration was not further depressed even after development of adult respiratory distress syndrome and did not correlate with degree of pulmonary dysfunction. These data suggest that fibronectin depletion is not an important determinant of respiratory failure in humans. Patients with sepsis syndrome had significantly lower plasma fibronectin levels than those without sepsis (187 ± 119 μg/ml vs. 273 ± 131 μg/ml, p < 0.05), suggesting a possible role for fibronectin in the pathogenesis of sepsis.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)583-590
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine
Volume104
Issue number4
StatePublished - 1984

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pathology and Forensic Medicine

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