FETAL HEMOGLOBIN LEVELS IN SUDDEN-INFANT-DEATH-SYNDROME

Objective.-The aim of this study was to determine and compare fetal he moglobin levels from infants dying of the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) with aged-matched control infants dying of other causes. Simil ar previous studies have reported both elevated and normal levels of f etal hemoglobin in whole blood samples from infants dying of SIDS. Des ign.-Triton-acid-urea gel electrophoresis and densitometry were used t o determine fetal hemoglobin levels in postmortem whole blood samples from infants dying of SIDS and from appropriately age-matched control infants. Whole blood samples were analyzed blindly and matched for pos tgestational age. Infant ages at death ranged from birth to less than 1 year. Main Outcome Measures.-Fetal hemoglobin in whole blood from in fants dying of SIDS and control infants. Results.-During the period of postnatal development most associated with SIDS cases (2 to 6 months after birth), fetal hemoglobin levels were found to be significantly e levated in postmortem whole blood samples from SIDS infants compared w ith gestational age-matched control infants dying of causes other than SIDS. Conclusion.-We conclude that levels of fetal hemoglobin are ele vated in postmortem whole blood of SIDS infants compared with controls . Furthermore, the apparent conflict in the literature regarding fetal hemoglobin levels in SIDS infants and controls is most likely due to variability in the control data of some studies.