title: Improvement in plasma protein concentrations with fibronectin treatment in severe malnutrition.
abstract: Severely malnourished young children (n = 72) were treated with intravenous fibronectin to assess its efficacy as an adjunct treatment for kwashiorkor and/or marasmus. The protein was given in a double-blind study during the first 4 d of hospitalization together with standard nutrition and supportive therapy. Fibronectin concentrations as well as albumin, transferrin, prealbumin, and alpha-2-macroglobulin were monitored in samples taken before each dose of fibronectin and in samples taken five times thereafter. Sick individuals had significantly lower concentrations of all five proteins than did healthy control individuals of matching ages. Mean fibronectin concentrations were 98 +/- 7 mg/L (mean +/- SEM) for sick vs 303 +/- 21 mg/L for healthy individuals. Concentrations of all five proteins increased at a greater daily rate in patients treated with fibronectin than in patients who received placebos. Eighty-seven percent of the treated children survived to the end of the treatment and observation periods (mean hospitalization 14.7 d) whereas only 56% of the control subjects survived (P = 0.004). These data support the use of intravenous fibronectin as an adjunct in the treatment of severe malnutrition at a dosage of 7.5 mg.kg-1.d-1 over a 4-d period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Loma Linda University, CA.
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Sandberg
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Owens
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: VanReken
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Horowitz
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Fredell
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takyi
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Troko
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Horowitz
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Hanson
mesh_terms: D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007732:Kwashiorkor / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D011379:Prognosis; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D005353:Fibronectins