The Open Pathology Journal

2010, 4 : 110-119
Published online 2010 April 14. DOI: 0.2174/18743757010040100110
Publisher ID: TOPATJ-4-110

Molecular Diagnostic Techniques in the Post-Mortem Investigation of Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths: Current and Future Applications

Martin A. Weber and Neil J. Sebire
Department of Histopathology, Camelia Botnar Laboratories, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Great Ormond Street, London, WC1N 3JH, UK;

ABSTRACT

Sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) encompasses all infant deaths that occur relatively suddenly and unexpected by history; in around a third of cases, the post-mortem examination and/or review of the clinical history and death scene will reveal a cause of death (explained SUDI), whilst the remainder will remain unexplained using current investigative autopsy protocols (unexplained SUDI or sudden infant death syndrome, SIDS). This review highlights current and potential future molecular applications in the post-mortem investigation of SUDI/SIDS, specifically focusing on the potential role of infection, as well as cardiac, neuropathological and metabolic findings that may be associated with, or increase the infant’s susceptibility to, sudden unexpected death.

Keywords:

SUDI, infant death, autopsy, investigation, molecular techniques. .