SUBDURAL NEOMEMBRANES AND SUDDEN-INFANT-DEATH-SYNDROME

Cranial dura maters of 36 consecutive infants with sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and 16 control infants coming to the Department of Co roner were examined microscopically to determine if subdural neomembra nes are associated with cases submitted as SIDS. Thirty-one percent (3 1%) of the infants with SIDS and 13% of control infants had organizing subdural neomembranes (p > 0.05). Overall prevalence of organizing su bdural neomembranes was 25% in the group examined. In all but two case s, birth trauma could be excluded as a cause of head trauma by aging n eomembranes histologically. No association was found between type of d elivery (vaginal or Cesarean: and presence of a subdural neomembrane. Subdural neomembranes are common in infants autopsied in a forensic se tting, but they may be missed without a microscopic examination. Subdu ral neomembranes have no demonstrated association with SIDS.