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. 2000 Nov;83(5):429-34.
doi: 10.1136/adc.83.5.429.

An association between sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and Helicobacter pylori infection

J R Kerr  1 , A Al-Khattaf, A J Barson, J P Burnie
Affiliations

An association between sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and Helicobacter pylori infection

J R Kerr et al. Arch Dis Child. 2000 Nov.

Abstract

Background: Helicobacter pylori has recently been detected in the stomach and trachea of cases of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and proposed as a cause of SIDS.

Aims: To establish the incidence of H pylori in the stomach, trachea, and lung of cases of SIDS and controls.

Methods: Stomach, trachea, and lung tissues from 32 cases of SIDS and eight control cases were examined retrospectively. Diagnosis of SIDS was based on established criteria. Controls were defined by death within 1 year of age and an identifiable cause of death. Tissues were examined histologically for the presence of bacteria. Extracted DNA from these tissues was tested for H pylori ureC and cagA sequences by nested polymerase chain reaction and amplicons detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The cut off for each ELISA for each of the tissue types was taken as the mean optical density plus two times the standard deviation of a range of negative controls.

Results: Ages of SIDS cases ranged from 2 to 28 weeks. Ages of controls ranged from 3 to 44 weeks. For the ureC gene, 25 SIDS cases were positive in one or more tissues compared with one of the controls. For the cagA gene, 25 SIDS cases were positive in one or more tissues compared with one of the controls.

Conclusions: There is a highly significant association between H pylori ureC and cagA genes in the stomach, trachea, and lung of cases of SIDS when compared with controls.

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Comment in

  • Helicobacter pylori.
    Murphy MS. Murphy MS. Arch Dis Child. 2001 Jun;84(6):525. doi: 10.1136/adc.84.6.525. Arch Dis Child. 2001. PMID: 11372076 Free PMC article. No abstract available.
  • Association between SIDS and H pylori infection.
    Franciosi RA. Franciosi RA. Arch Dis Child. 2001 Jun;84(6):525. doi: 10.1136/adc.84.6.525a. Arch Dis Child. 2001. PMID: 11372077 Free PMC article. No abstract available.
  • Ammonia--not the culprit.
    Wiklund L, Ronquist G, George M. Wiklund L, et al. Arch Dis Child. 2001 Jun;84(6):525. doi: 10.1136/adc.84.6.525b. Arch Dis Child. 2001. PMID: 11372078 Free PMC article. No abstract available.
  • Control your controls and conclusions.
    Koletzko S, Konstantopoulos N, Lehn N, Forman D. Koletzko S, et al. Arch Dis Child. 2001 Jun;84(6):525. doi: 10.1136/adc.84.6.525c. Arch Dis Child. 2001. PMID: 11372079 Free PMC article. No abstract available.
  • Association is not the same as causation.
    Richardson M. Richardson M. Arch Dis Child. 2001 Jun;84(6):525. doi: 10.1136/adc.84.6.525d. Arch Dis Child. 2001. PMID: 11372080 Free PMC article. No abstract available.
  • Death kisses for newborns?
    Vieth M, Stolte M, De Groote D, Deeg KH, Seitz G. Vieth M, et al. Arch Dis Child. 2001 Jun;84(6):525. doi: 10.1136/adc.84.6.525e. Arch Dis Child. 2001. PMID: 11372081 Free PMC article. No abstract available.
  • Dwelling crowding as a pertinent factor.
    Beggs PJ. Beggs PJ. Arch Dis Child. 2001 Jun;84(6):525. doi: 10.1136/adc.84.6.525f. Arch Dis Child. 2001. PMID: 11372082 Free PMC article. No abstract available.
  • H pylori DNA may not imply infection.
    Doherty CP, Mackay WG, Weaver LT, Shepherd AJ, Williams CL. Doherty CP, et al. Arch Dis Child. 2001 Jun;84(6):525. doi: 10.1136/adc.84.6.525g. Arch Dis Child. 2001. PMID: 11372083 Free PMC article. No abstract available.
  • The need for further evidence for the proposed role of Helicobacter pylori in SIDS.
    Blackwell CC, Weir DM, Busuttil A. Blackwell CC, et al. Arch Dis Child. 2001 Jun;84(6):525. doi: 10.1136/adc.84.6.525i. Arch Dis Child. 2001. PMID: 11372084 Free PMC article. No abstract available.
  • Controls not matched.
    Marshall BJ, Ho GY. Marshall BJ, et al. Arch Dis Child. 2001 Jun;84(6):525. doi: 10.1136/adc.84.6.525j. Arch Dis Child. 2001. PMID: 11372085 Free PMC article. No abstract available.
  • No association in a Chinese population.
    Leung WK, Yu J, To KF. Leung WK, et al. Arch Dis Child. 2001 Jun;84(6):525. doi: 10.1136/adc.84.6.525k. Arch Dis Child. 2001. PMID: 11372086 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

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