Insight into pathophysiology of sudden infant death syndrome

Physiological studies that have been undertaken in children with apparent life-threatening events point to disturbances of the autonomic nervous system and brain stem abnormalities. These abnormalities are manifested as breathing dysfunctions and sleeping patterns, as well as heart rate variability. The diminished arousal response in infants who are exposed to intermittent hypoxia can be fatal during conditions when oxygen availability is limited. This inference well explains well the success of campaigns for supine sleeping position, which associated with the decrease in the rate of sudden infant syndrome deaths. JULIJE MEŠTROVIĆ ( ) Paediatric Intensive Care Unit Department of Paediatrics, Split University Hospital Spinčićeva 1, 21000 Split, Croatia Phone: + 385 (0) 21 556 686 Fax: + 385 (0) 21 556 590 E-mail: [email protected] JULIJE MEŠTROVIĆ REVIEW SIGNA VITAE 2008; 3 Suppl 1: S 41 43