[Plasma fibronectin in pediatric patients].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the levels of plasma fibronectin (FBN) in pediatric patients and to correlate them with serum albumin (ALB).


METHODS
The FBN was measured by nephelometry and ALB by enzymatic analysis in samples from 95 healthy Mexican pediatric patients seen in the ambulatory surgery department.


RESULTS
The levels of FBN was similar in boy and girls (mean +/- SD) 273 +/- 90 and 268 +/- 106 micrograms/mL respectively. FBN was significantly lower in children less than 6 months old. We found seven patients with ALB < 3.0 g/dL who had significantly lower values of FBN than the normoalbuminemic patients. The correlation of FBN and ALB was low (r = 0.23).


CONCLUSIONS
FBN in pediatric patients is significatively lower than in adults. The lowest concentrations were seen in children less than 6 months old. These lower FBN may be an additional factor for immunodeficiency in this group at risk.
Maulén-Radován
I
I
División de Investigación Clínica, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud, México, D.F.
Gutiérrez-Castrellón
P
P
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D012709:Serum Albumin
D005353:Fibronectins; D012709:Serum Albumin