Increased serum fibronectin levels in patients with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome.

BACKGROUND

In view of the role of fibronectin in adhesion, signal transduction pathways and the infectious disease process, changes in serum fibronectin levels may influence disease evolution and severity in patients with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS).

METHODS

The levels of fibronectin were measured in serum samples from 112 patients with HFRS at various phases, and 30 healthy individuals were monitored as controls.

RESULTS

The serum levels of fibronectin in patients with HFRS at all clinical phases were higher than those in the controls, with the levels of patients at the fever, oliguric and polyuric phases of disease significantly different from controls (P < 0.01). The serum fibronectin concentration in the patients with more severe clinical disease types was higher than that in those with milder types. The serum fibronectin level in the more severe patient group was significantly higher than that in milder patient group at the oliguric phase (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Serum fibronectin concentration in patients with HFRS was increased and associated with disease phases and severity, suggesting the value of detection of fibronectin levels for evaluating HFRS disease progression and severity.