The development of the diaphragm in infants with sudden infant death syndrome

• Published in: Early human development Vol. 37; no. 1; pp. 1 - 8
• Main Authors: Tennyson, Shan A., Pereyra, Pedro M., Becker, Laurence E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier Ireland Ltd 30.04.1994; New York,NY Elsevier; Amsterdam
• Subjects: Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Child, Preschool; Congenital Abnormalities - embryology; Development; Diaphragm; Diaphragm - embryology; Diaphragm - growth & development; Diaphragm - pathology; Emergency and intensive care: neonates and children. Prematurity. Sudden death; Fiber types; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Intensive care medicine; Medical sciences; Muscle; Muscle Development; SIDS; Sudden Infant Death - etiology; Sudden Infant Death - pathology; Sudden infant death syndrome; Sudden infant death syndrome; Development; Muscle; SIDS; Diaphragm; Fiber types; Human; Respiratory muscle; Sudden death; Etiopathogenesis; Infant; Muscular fiber
• ISSN: 0378-3782; 1872-6232
• DOI: 10.1016/0378-3782(94)90141-4

The morphological development of the skeletal muscle of the diaphragm was studied in normal controls and cases of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Measurements of fiber diameter indicated that the SIDS population had significantly larger diameters for type 1 and type 2 fibers than the control population. The ratio of type 1 to type 2 fibers was found to remain significantly depressed with increasing age in the SIDS population compared with the control population, where it increased linearly to values between 0.8 and 1.2 after 10 months of age. These results suggest an abnormality in the development of the diaphragm of SIDS victims, although its exact nature remains to be determined.