Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, including details on sids, causes, prevention, statistics.

Hemoglobin F in sudden infant death syndrome: a San Diego SIDS/SUDC Research Project report.

Krous HF, Haas EA, Chadwick AE, Masoumi H, Stanley C, Perry GW

Rady Children's Hospital and Health Center, 3020 Children's Way, MC5007, San Diego, CA 92123, USA. hkrous@chsd.org

Whether levels of fetal hemoglobin (HbF), a possible marker of antecedent hypoxemia, are increased in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) compared to controls is unresolved. Our aims are to: (1) Compare percent fetal hemoglobin (%HbF) levels in SIDS and control cases, and (2) compare our findings with those reported in previous studies. Using Triton-acid-urea gel electrophoresis and quantitative densitometry, %HbF was determined in whole blood specimens obtained at autopsy from SIDS and control cases accessioned into the San Diego SIDS/SUDC Research Project database. The SIDS and control cases were not different with respect to mean age, gender, gestational age, method of delivery, birth weight, or mean autopsy interval; %HbF levels in SIDS and control cases were not significantly different. Given that our results were obtained using optimal methods in well-defined SIDS and control cases, we concur with others that %HbF is not elevated in SIDS.

Published 26 October 2007 in J Forensic Leg Med, 14(8): 456-60.
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