Article
Concentrations of antimony in infants dying from SIDS and infants
dying from other causes
A Cullena, B Kiberdc, D Devaneyb, J Gilland, P Kelehane, T G Matthewsa, P Mayneb, N Murphya, M O'Reganf, W Shannong, L Thorntonh
a Department of
Paediatrics, University College Dublin, The Children's Hospital,
Temple Street, Dublin 1, Republic of Ireland, b Department of
Pathology, The Children's Hospital, c National Sudden Infant Death Register, The Irish
Sudden Infant Death Register, Georges Hall, Temple Street, Dublin 1, Republic of Ireland, d Department
of Pathology, The Rotunda, Dublin 1, Republic of Ireland, e Department of Pathology, National
Maternity Hospital, Holles Street, Dublin 2, Republic of Ireland, f Department of Statistics,
Trinity College, Dublin 2, Republic of Ireland, g Department of General Practice, Royal College of
Surgeons, Lower Stephen Street, Dublin 2, Republic of Ireland, h Department of Public Health, Baggot
Street Hospital, Dublin 4, Republic of Ireland
Correspondence to: Professor Matthews
Accepted 9 November
1999
OBJECTIVES
Raised
concentrations of antimony have been found in infants dying of sudden
infant death syndrome (SIDS). The presumed source of this antimony 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.
DESIGNSamples of
liver, brain, serum, and urine were collected from all patients dying
from SIDS and a group of aged matched control infants who had died of
other causes.
SETTINGNationwide
study in Ireland.
SUBJECTS52 infants
dying from SIDS and 19 control infants aged > 7 days and < 1 year.
RESULTSThe median
concentration of antimony in the liver and brain of infants dying of
SIDS was < 1 ng/g, with no difference detected between the infants
dying from SIDS and the control infants. The range of antimony in the
serum of infants dying of SIDS was 0.09-0.71 µg/litre (median,
0.26). Although no difference was found between infants dying from SIDS
and control infants, SIDS infants were found to have higher
concentrations when compared with healthy infants in the 1st year of
life, probably as a result of release of antimony into serum after
death. Urine antimony concentrations in infants dying from SIDS were
< 3.91 ng/mg (corrected for creatinine) and similar to values found
both in control infants and healthy infants.
CONCLUSIONThere is no
evidence to support a causal role for antimony in SIDS.
Keywords: sudden infant death syndrome; antimony
© 2000 by Archives of Disease in Childhood
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