IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL DETECTION OF HUMAN-MILK COMPONENTS ASPIRATED IN LUNGS OF AN INFANT

We examined an autopsy case of an infant whose cause of death was susp ected to be asphyxia due to human breast milk aspiration. In order to demonstrate aspirated milk in the lungs, we conducted immunohistochemi cal staining using eight antibodies against the components of human mi lk. Seven of the eight antibodies reacted positively with the substanc es suspected to be aspirated milk. We concluded that immunohistochemic al staining with these antibodies is useful to demonstrate human milk aspiration and provide some keys for detecting the causes of unexpecte d infant deaths. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.