 |
|
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and Brain Abnormalities
|
|
| Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings. |
|
|
|
To the Editor: The study of brainstem abnormalities in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) by Dr Paterson and colleagues1 concluded that an abnormality of serotonin function in the brainstem is a specific cause of SIDS, but the authors did not address contrary evidence. The key issue is whether these abnormalities are a cause or an effect of hypoxia. Because the autopsies were not part of a prospective study, they cannot establish when changes in serotonin function occurred.
Paterson et al suggest that the serotonergic abnormalities arise in the fetal state as a developmental disorder involving delayed neuronal maturation, leaving the infant vulnerable to SIDS; this is one of the factors of their triple risk model that also includes an exogenous stressor and a critical development period. However, this suggestion conflicts with reports of normal respiratory physiology in neonates who were assessed prospectively and subsequently died of SIDS.2
Another difficulty for . . . [Full Text of this Article]
Warren G. Guntheroth, MD
wgg@u.washington.edu
Philip S. Spiers, PhD
Department of Pediatrics
University of Washington School of Medicine
Seattle
RELATED LETTERS
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and Brain Abnormalities
Millard Bass
JAMA. 2007;297(11):1190-1191.
EXTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and Brain Abnormalities—Reply
David S. Paterson
JAMA. 2007;297(11):1191.
EXTRACT
| FULL TEXT
RELATED ARTICLE
Multiple Serotonergic Brainstem Abnormalities in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
David S. Paterson, Felicia L. Trachtenberg, Eric G. Thompson, Richard A. Belliveau, Alan H. Beggs, Ryan Darnall, Amy E. Chadwick, Henry F. Krous, and Hannah C. Kinney
JAMA. 2006;296(17):2124-2132.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
|
