Hypothesis: Common bacterial toxins are a possible cause of the sudden infant death syndrome
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Cited by (103)
A mouse zoonotic virus (LCMV): A possible candidate in the causation of SIDS
2022, Medical HypothesesCitation Excerpt :It is interesting that a number of studies which examined epidemiological, sociological and pregnancy risk factors for the prone sleeping position in SIDS often showed a relationship to winter seasonality [34], yet, surprisingly failed to make the obvious link to infection. So, infection remained a neglected theme (with the exception of several research groups [20,21,35–42]) in the quest for a pathogenetic mechanism for SIDS and has remained so despite strong support for a role of infection as was shown in the Tasmanian SIDS Study of Ponsonby et al [43]. The study revealed the true nature and effect of prone sleep position.
SIDS, prone sleep position and infection: An overlooked epidemiological link in current SIDS research? Key evidence for the “Infection Hypothesis”
2020, Medical HypothesesCitation Excerpt :The cytokines TNF, IFN-α, and IL-6 appear to be involved in the pathogenetic process as suggested by Lundemose et al 1993 [30]. The involvement of bacterial toxins and cytokine responses has now been well described in studies that support such a toxigenic shock pathogenetic mechanism in SIDS/SUDI [5–8,37]. Highet et al. [38] showed staphylococcal enterotoxins of several groups were highly likely to have been involved in SIDS pathogenesis.
Medical hypotheses: A clinician's guide to publication
2016, Advances in Integrative MedicinePostmortem investigation of sudden unexpected death in infancy: current issues and autopsy protocol
2009, Diagnostic HistopathologyCitation Excerpt :Several publications have suggested that a significant number of currently unexplained SUDI/SIDS deaths may be mediated through abnormal systemic immune responses to otherwise transient or subclinical infections, suggesting that the spectrum of potential mechanisms of infection-related deaths in SUDI may be wider than simply a consequence of direct tissue invasion and destruction. For example, the so-called ‘common bacterial toxin hypothesis’70–72 postulates that some SIDS may be caused by bacterial toxins, most likely produced by upper respiratory tract organisms such as Staphylococcus aureus, which may cause an abnormal response in the infants' immune system, with many toxins potentially acting as superantigens to cause massive release of cytokines with resulting toxic shock-like syndrome or septic shock, and death; alternatively, it has been speculated that toxins may act directly on neural or myocyte membranes to induce sudden death.71,73 This hypothesis remains currently unproven.
Transient bacteraemia: A possible cause of sudden life threatening events
2007, Medical HypothesesAssociation of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome With VEGF and IL-6 Gene Polymorphisms
2006, Human Immunology