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  • Title: Brain weight-body weight ratio in sudden infant death syndrome revisited.
    Author: Elliott JA, Vink R, Jensen L, Byard RW.
    Journal: Med Sci Law; 2012 Oct; 52(4):207-9. PubMed ID: 22619376.
    Abstract:
    AIMS: To determine whether the brain-body weight ratio is increased in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). METHODS: Review of autopsy files from Forensic Science SA, South Australia was undertaken over an eight-year period from 1999 to 2006, with classification of cases according to the San Diego definition. Sudden and/or unexpected deaths in previously healthy infants due to asphyxia or infection were selected as controls. RESULTS: There were 42 SIDS cases and 25 controls. The SIDS cases were aged from 1 to 42 weeks (mean: 16.26 ± 1.5 weeks) with a male to female ratio of 26:16. The control infants were aged from 3 to 48 weeks (mean: 19.24 ± 2.9 weeks) (P > 0.05) (M:F = 16:9) and included 13 cases of asphyxia and 12 cases of sepsis. Comparison of the brain-body weight ratios failed to demonstrate a significant difference: SIDS mean = 0.121 ± 0.003; control mean = 0.115 ± 0.003 (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Although, there was a trend towards higher brain-body weight ratios in SIDS infants, this did not reach significance. The role of brain weight in the aetiology of SIDS remains controversial.
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