Plasma fibronectin concentrations during normal term labor.

Abstract

We measured plasma concentrations of fibronectin in 30 normal parturients in early labor and at the time of delivery, using a rapid immunoturbidimetric assay. We compared these values with those of 30 healthy nonpregnant control women. The mean plasma concentrations of fibronectin in women in early labor and at delivery were 400 +/- 104 and 410 +/- 147 micrograms/mL, respectively (not significant). Both of these values were higher than the mean fibronectin concentration in controls, 283 +/- 81 micrograms/mL (P less than .0001). We conclude that plasma concentrations of fibronectin are higher in pregnant women than in nonpregnant controls and that they remain relatively constant during uncomplicated term labor.