Fibronectin in the newborn

ABSTRACT

This work was carried out on 220 neonates selected from the Pediatric Department of Al-Husain University Hospital. They were classified into 6 groups; group I 40 healthy full term neonates, group II 40 healthy preterm neonates, group III 35 healthy full term breast fed neonates, group IV 35 healthy full term formula fed neonates, group V 60 neonates with documented bacterial infections and group VI 10 healthy neonates as a control group]. Plasma fibronectin [FN] level was estimated by radial immunudiffusion for all neonates together with total leucocytic count, total neutrophil count Band/total neutrophil, platelet count, C.R.P. And ESR for septicemic and healthy control groups. Blood culture was done for septicemic group. The results showed that the mean FN in healthy full term was 213.2 mg/l and 205 mg/l in healthy preterm [p >0.05]. There was no significant difference of FN level in both groups in relation to gestational age, body weight and sex [p >0.05]. Plasma FN level was much higher in breast fed than formula fed neonates [p <0.001]. It was also found that FN was significantly decreased among septicemic compared to healthy neonates [p <0.001]. The absolute band count as well as band/total neutrophil ratio were significantly higher among septicemic as compared to control group [p <0.05]