This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Stowens, D. Articles by Clay, J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Stowens, D. Articles by Clay, J. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy A New Hypothesis of Cause

Department of Pathology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Children's Hospital and Office of the Coroner, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky

Edward L. Callahan

Department of Pathology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Children's Hospital and Office of the Coroner, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky

Jennifer Clay

Department of Pathology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Children's Hospital and Office of the Coroner, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky

Blood and urine studies were performed on 30 consecutive infants who came to autopsy in 1963 after sudden unexpected death. In every case, a constellation of anatomic alterations was found which is identical with that seen in experimentally induced anaphylaxis in animals. Urine analyses revealed intense proteinuria at the time of death and the presence of an abnormal urinary compound termed a "nephrosis peptide."

These authors hypothesize a physio logic defect leading to the absorption of undigested protein. This study suggests that this protein, being antigenic, is re sponsible for a lethal anaphylactic reac tion, thereby explaining the sudden death of some infants.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?