Plasma fibronectin concentrations in patients with HIV infection and visceral leishmaniasis

Concentrations of circulating fibronectin were studied in plasma of 22 patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and 24 healthy blood donors. There were significant differences between the plasma fibronectin values of the patient population with AIDS (mean 2 SD = 206 +/- 86 mg/l) and of the control group (mean +/- 2 SD = 297 +/- 92 mg/l). AIDS patients with visceral leishmaniasis showed a significant diminution of plasma fibronectin concentration (mean +/- 2 SD = 132 +/- 31 mg/l). A significant increase in plasma fibronectin concentrations was noted after 14 days of treatment with antimony (mean 2 SD = 239 +/- 67 mg/l). These results suggest that the measurement of fibronectin concentrations in patients with AIDS especially with concurrent infection, contributes to diagnosis. A significant decrease in plasma fibronectin concentrations was observed in patients with AIDS and visceral leishmaniasis.