PATHOLOGICAL-STUDY OF THE HEART IN 100 CA SES OF SUDDEN-INFANT-DEATH-SYNDROME

Background. - Post-mortem examination of infants with sudden infant de ath syndrome (SIDS) is essential for understanding the cause and/or me chanism of death. This study aims to evaluate the contribution of hear t in SIDS. Population and methods. - Between 1981 and 1990, the CHU of Nantes carried out autopsies on 162 cases of sudden infant death synd rome. One hundred files were accepted for this retrospective study bec ause a second recent macroscopic and microscopic (11 samples for each heart) examination of heart was possible. Results. - The weight of hea rts was not increased, except in one case, Macroscopic examination did not reveal any cardiac abnormalities. Histological examination confir med the lesions initially observed in 11 cases and probably responsibl e for their death. Conclusions. - This study underlines the importance of studying numerous samples of each heart for microscopic examinatio n of many sections.