Lung development: Number of terminal bronchiolar duct endings and gas exchange surface area in victims of sudden infant death syndrome

Previous research has demonstrated impaired renal development, particularly with respect to glomerular number, in victims of sudden infant death syndr ome (SIDS). The present study used stereological principles to estimate the volume of the upper lobe of the right lung, total number of terminal bronc hiolar duct endings (TBDE), and gas exchange surface area of this lobe with in a group of human infants. The infants were classified according to cause of death (SIDS or non-SIDS), and further subdivided according to birth-wei ght: normal birth-weight (NBW) or low birth-weight (LBW). The results demonstrated that TBDE density was significantly reduced in SID S compared to non-SIDS (P = 0.014), but only reduced from non-SIDS NEW valu es in the SIDS NEW group (P = 0.044). Total TBDE number was significantly r educed in SIDS from non-SIDS (P = 0.001), and was significantly reduced fro m non-SIDS NEW values in SIDS NEW (P = 0.023). Mean gas exchange surface ar ea per TBDE was significantly increased in SIDS compared to non-SIDS cases (P = 0.049). The results of the present study indicate developmental delay of the lung i n SIDS NEW infants who had previously not been considered growth retarded b ased on their normal body parameters. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.