Cryoprecipitate infusion fails to improve organ function in septic shock

Plasma fibronectin may be of critical importance for the septic patient through its proposed function as the major opsonin for macrophage clearance of circulating, noncellular debris. As a rule, critically ill, septic patients are depleted of fibronectin. In earlier uncontrolled studies, infusion of fibronectin-rich cryoprecipitate had resulted in improved renal and pulmonary functions and changes in peripheral hemodynamics. In this controlled study, 32 septic ICU patients (mean initial fibronectin level = 60% of normal) received cryoprecipitate or control infusions. Although the fibronectin level was significantly elevated to the normal range in the cryoprecipitate group, no effects were seen in hemodynamics, oxygen metabolism, or lung and kidney functions. Our results indicate that this form of fibronectin therapy does not influence the impaired organ function in septic shock.