Effect of gestational age on plasma fibronectin concentrations in the neonate

Fibronectin (FN) is known to have important roles in host defense against infection. The risk for neonatal sepsis increases with the degree of immaturity of the host. Conflicting results have been reported on the relationship between plasma FN levels and gestational age (GA) in the preterm neonate. In the present study, we determined plasma FN concentrations with an immunodiffusion method in 40 newborns of various gestational ages, ranging from 30 to 42 weeks. We found a strong direct correlation between plasma FN levels and GA (r = 0.86; P < 0.001). We speculate that the increased risk for neonatal sepsis with degree of prematurity may, in part, be explained by impaired defense with decreasing plasma FN levels seen with lessening GA.