Fibronectin determination in pregnancy.

The levels of fibronectin were determined by immunoturbidimetric assay in two populations: (a) plasma of healthy nonpregnant and pregnant women, and in amniotic fluid of healthy pregnant females; (b) plasma of umbilical cord blood of healthy newborns and of newborns with sepsis. Fibronectin concentrations of amniotic fluid showed a significant decrease during pregnancy, but the changes of plasma fibronectin levels were not significant in this period. In newborn sepsis, the levels of plasma fibronectin were significantly decreased. We did not find a significant difference between the fibronectin concentration of umbilical cord blood of premature infants compared to mature infants.