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.

Serotonin transporter gene variation in sudden infant death syndrome.

Opdal SH, Vege A, Rognum TO

Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Oslo, Pathology Clinic, Rikshospitalet University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. s.h.opdal@medisin.uio.no

AIM: To investigate polymorphisms in the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene in cases of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and controls, and further to elucidate a possible relationship between 5-HTT genotypes and external risk factors for SIDS. METHOD: The subjects investigated consist of 163 SIDS cases and 243 controls. Polymorphisms in both the promoter and intron 2 of the 5-HTT gene were investigated, and the genotypes were determined using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and gel electrophoresis. RESULTS: In the promoter, there was a tendency for the L allele and L/L genotype to be found more often in the SIDS cases than in the controls (p=0.05 and p=0.07, respectively). Regarding the intron 2 polymorphism, there were no differences between the groups, and the SIDS cases were not found to have a higher frequency of either the L/L-12/12 genotype or the L-12 haplotype than the controls. When investigating possible correlations between genotype and risk factors for SIDS, there was a tendency towards different distribution of the promoter genotypes in cases found dead prone compared to cases found dead in other sleeping positions (p=0.06). CONCLUSION: Polymorphisms in the promoter of the 5-HTT gene may be of importance with regard to SIDS.

Published 5 June 2008 in Acta Paediatr, 97(7): 861-5.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2005-2008 Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Research Today. All Rights Reserved.