Table 2.
Inflammatory or immune responses identified in SIDS infants.
| Organ system | Response | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Respiratory tract | Peribronchial inflammatory infiltrates | (12, 13) |
| Increase in IgM producing cells in trachea | (14) | |
| Mast cell degranulation | (15) (Walls, this issue) | |
| Digestive tract | Increased IgA producing cells in duodenum | (14) |
| Increased salivary IgA | (16) | |
| Nervous system | Interferon alpha in neurons of the medulla of the brain | (17) |
| Increased levels of IL-6 in spinal fluid | (18) | |
| Lymphocyte infiltration | (19) | |
| Blood | Decreased IgG response to bacterial toxins | (20, 21) |
| Increased IgM response to core endotoxin | (21) | |
| Increased levels of mast cell tryptase | (15) | |
| Increased levels of mannose binding lectin | (22) | |
| Cross-linked fibrin degradation products | (23) |