Previous breastfeeding does not alter thymic size in infants dying of sudden infant death syndrome

Acta Paediatr. 2000 Jan;89(1):112-4. doi: 10.1080/080352500750029176.

Abstract

The relationship between thymic weights and previous feeding histories was examined in 294 infants of 37 wk gestation or more dying of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). One hundred and sixty-five infants had been breastfed exclusively, 89 had been partially breastfed and 40 had never been breastfed. We found no relationship between thymic weight and type of previous feeding. The difference between these findings in SIDS and the substantially greater thymic size previously reported in 4-mo-old breastfed living infants deserves further study.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Autopsy
  • Birth Weight
  • Body Height
  • Body Weight
  • Breast Feeding*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant Food
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Organ Size
  • Risk Factors
  • Sudden Infant Death / etiology
  • Sudden Infant Death / pathology*
  • Thymus Gland / anatomy & histology*
  • Thymus Gland / immunology*
  • Thymus Gland / pathology