Plasma fibronectin concentrations in morbidly obese patients

Abstract

Plasma fibronectin concentrations and liver morphology were investigated in 45 morbidly obese subjects (median overweight 88%) and in 42 normal weight controls, matched for sex and age.

A Significantly (P < 0.05) elevated plasma fibronectin concentration seven in mg/1, range 276-862 mg/1) was found in the obese subjects when compared with concentrations in the controls (median 348 mg/1, range 164-536 mg/1). Plasma fibronectin concentrations of the obese patients correlated significantly to their degree of overweight (r = 0.33, P < 0.05) as well as to the degree of fatty change found in their liver biopsies (r = 0.33, P < 0.05).

Significantly (P < 0.05) elevated plasma fibronectin concentrations even in obese subjects without hepatic fatty change indicate that liver fat accumulation is no prerequisite of the obesity-related elevation of plasma fibronectin. Raised plasma fibronectin concentration in obesity may more readily be explained by an increased fibronectin formation by lipocytes.

Key Words:

• fatty liver
• fibronectin
• obesity