Concentrations of antimony in infants dying from SIDS and infants dying from other causes

Objectives-Raised concentrations of antimony have been found in infants dyi ng of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The presumed source of this anti mony is toxic gases generated from fire retardants that are present in cot mattresses. The aim of this study was to determine the role of antimony in SIDS. Design-Samples of liver, brain, serum, and urine were collected from all pa tients dying from SIDS and a group of aged matched control infants who had died of other causes. Setting-Nationwide study in Ireland. Subjects-52 infants dying from SIDS and 19 control infants aged > 7 days an d < 1 year. Results-The median concentration of antimony in the liver and brain of infa nts dying of SIDS was < 1 ng/g, with no difference detected between the inf ants dying from SIDS and the control infants. The range of antimony in the serum of infants dying of SIDS was 0.09-0.71 mu g/litre (median, 0.26), Alt hough no difference was found between infants dying from SIDS and control i nfants, SIDS infants were found to have higher concentrations when compared with healthy infants in the 1st year of life, probably as a result of rele ase of antimony into serum after death. Urine antimony concentrations in in fants dying from SIDS were < 3.91 ng/mg (corrected for creatinine) and simi lar to values found both in control infants and healthy infants. Conclusion-There is no evidence to support a causal role for antimony in SI DS.