Plasma fibronectin innormal subjects andin various disease states

SUhIMARYPlasma fibronectin was determined in121normal adults andin149patients. Fibronectin levels innormals werestrongly influenced bysexandage.Themean value oftheprotein incancer patients didnotdiffer fromthat innormal controls; however, patients withcryofibrinogenaemia or extensive liver metastases hadlower values whereas those withobstructive jaundice duetopancreatic carcinoma hadhigher values thannormal controls. Fibronectin levels were greatly increased in patients withprimary biliary cirrhosis andmoderately elevated innephrotic syndrome. Inpatients with severeinfection orsepsis, plasma fibronectin didnotshowa consistent pattern. Patients with overtdisseminated intravascular coagulation, irrespective ofits cause,hadthelowest plasma fibronectin concentrations.