Hypoplasia and neuronal immaturity of the hypoglossal nucleus in sudden infant death

Objective: To report the case of five month old female baby with a history of episodes of gastro-oesophageal reflux and pneumonia. Her sudden death offered a unique insight into the possible role of delayed neuronal maturation and hypoplasia of the hypoglossal nucleus in representing a likely morpho...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of clinical pathology 2006-05, Vol.59 (5), p.497-500
Main Authors: Ottaviani, G, Matturri, L, Mingrone, R, Lavezzi, A M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Age
Apnea - complications
Apnea - pathology
Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus - pathology
aspiration pneumonia
Babies
Biological and medical sciences
borderline SIDS
Female
Gastroesophageal Reflux - complications
Gastroesophageal Reflux - pathology
Humans
Hypoglossal Nerve - pathology
hypoglossal nucleus hypoplasia
hypoglossal nucleus neuronal immaturity
Infant
Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects)
Medical sciences
Morphology
Neuroglia - pathology
Original
passive smoking
Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques
Pneumonia
SIDS
Smoking - adverse effects
Sudden Infant Death - pathology
Sudden infant death syndrome
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Summary:Objective: To report the case of five month old female baby with a history of episodes of gastro-oesophageal reflux and pneumonia. Her sudden death offered a unique insight into the possible role of delayed neuronal maturation and hypoplasia of the hypoglossal nucleus in representing a likely morphological substrate of sudden death. Methods: Morphometric analysis was carried out with an Image-Pro Plus Image analyser (Media Cybernetics) on both sides of the brain stem. Results: Hypoplasia and neuronal immaturity of the hypoglossal nucleus were demonstrated, accompanied by hypoplasia of the arcuate nucleus. Conclusions: Much attention should be paid to the possible role of the hypoglossal nucleus in determining a lethal outcome in infancy through impairment of deglutition and subsequent recurrent episodes of pneumonia, and as a necropsy finding.
ISSN:0021-9746
1472-4146
DOI:10.1136/jcp.2005.032037