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Published in:

01-12-2006 | Original Article

Maternal smoking and sudden infant death syndrome: epidemiological study related to pathology

Authors: Luigi Matturri, Giulia Ottaviani, Anna Maria Lavezzi

Published in: Virchows Archiv | Issue 6/2006

Abstract

Various risk factors have been postulated to be related to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Despite its reduction, thanks to the “Back to Sleep” campaign, SIDS is still a major cause of infant mortality in the first year of life. The purpose of this study was to correlate the different risk factors with the autopsy results and thus to determine if one or more of these variables is really specific for SIDS. We collected 128 sudden infant death victims with clinical diagnosis of SIDS and performed a complete autopsy with in-depth histology on serial sections, particularly of the brainstem, in accordance with our necropsy protocol. Histopathologic and immunohistochemical examination of the central autonomic nervous system revealed, in 78 cases of the SIDS group, the following anomalies: hypodevelopment of the arcuate nucleus, somatostatin positive hypoglossus nucleus, tyrosine hydroxylase negativity in the locus coeruleus, gliosis, and hypoplasia of the hypoglossus nucleus. A significant relation was found between maternal smoke and brainstem alterations.

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Title: Maternal smoking and sudden infant death syndrome: epidemiological study related to pathology
Authors: Luigi Matturri
Giulia Ottaviani
Anna Maria Lavezzi
Publication date: 01-12-2006
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: Virchows Archiv / Issue 6/2006
Print ISSN: 0945-6317
Electronic ISSN: 1432-2307
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00428-006-0308-0

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Maternal smoking and sudden infant death syndrome: epidemiological study related to pathology

Abstract

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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