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.

Extramedullary haematopoiesis in liver of sudden infant death cases.

Töro K, Hubay M, Keller E

Department of Forensic Medicine, Semmelweis University, Ulloi út 93, Budapest 1091, Hungary. torok@igaz.sote.hu

AIMS: To determine the frequency of extramedullary haematopoiesis (EMH) in sudden infant death and control cases, and to provide descriptive data on extramedullary haematopoietic islands and diffuse cells. METHODS: The study was carried out in 51 SIDS and 102 non-SIDS cases. Liver-tissue sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin, and immunohistochemistry was done with streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase complexes by Polyclonal Haemoglobin "A" antibody. The prevalence of data was estimated statistically by Pearson chi-square test, descriptive statistics, and Kruskal-Wallis test. RESULTS: The Pearson chi-square values (CI: 95%; OR: 0.071-0.49; p: 0.0474) show higher frequency of EMH islands in SIDS than in controls. The number of diffuse extramedullary haematopoetic cells was higher in SIDS cases compared to non-SIDS (p=0.017). CONCLUSIONS: EMH is a frequent finding in SIDS cases, and this may be a consequence of anaemia associated with intrauterine hypoxia, or infections.

Published 4 July 2007 in Forensic Sci Int, 170(1): 15-9.
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