Changes in plasma fibronectin levels in burn patients.

Plasma fibronectin was determined in 180 healthy individuals. No significant difference was found between males and females: therefore the values were pooled. The mean value was 286.94 +/- 51.35 micrograms/ml. In 24 patients with burns covering 30-95 per cent of the total body surface area (TBSA), plasma fibronectin was determined sequentially. There was a significant lowering in plasma fibronectin (FN) values in all cases on post-burn day 1 (112.56-185.85 micrograms/ml) and post-burn day 2 (44.03-298.0 micrograms/ml). The concentrations returned to within the normal range in 19 survivors within 3-6 days. In five non-survivors, plasma FN levels fell progressively until death. In another nine patients with burns ranging from 3 per cent to 25 per cent TBSA, plasma FN level was found to be normal on post-burn day 1. The likely causes of the reduced concentrations of plasma fibronectin in patients with burn injuries are briefly discussed. It seems that the level of plasma fibronectin may be used as a prognostic index in burn patients.