[Absence of fibronectin in a 40-day-old child who died as a result of septicemia with disseminated intravascular coagulation].

A new born infant who died when he was 40 days old, after urinary infection, septicemia and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is reported. The concentration of fibronectin (FN) was undetectable (less than 1.1 mg/dl). His mother and one sister had also decreased levels (19 and 19.5 mg/dl), although inside normal limits, when they were compared to simultaneously studied normal controls (27 +/- 8). There were not infections, coagulation disturbs neither keloid scars in the family. A patient cousin also died at the first days of life. The deficiency of our case was much more important that FN levels found in 23 children with sepsis and DIC (range 6-38 mg/dl), therefore it is possible he had a primary deficiency. The investigation of FN levels in all newborns with severe infections or other disturbs is recommended, since these patients could be benefit from purified FN or cryoprecipitate therapy.