Cardiac causes of sudden infant death

Abstract

The mechanism and causes of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is still remains its mystery. The pathophysiology of SIDS is not clear. Sleeping in prone position is thought to contribute to pathophysiology. Schwartz was the first physician suggesting that SIDS can be associated with heart and autonomic nervous system. Congenital long QT syndrome may trigger SIDS by causing ventricular tachycardia. Normal cardiac rhythm is regulated by ion channels and specific proteins, but genetical analyses clearly demonstrated that 5 ion channel genes were responsible for rare arrhythmias. The infections, fever and sleeping in prone position can increase the risk of long QT syndrome in babies having mutations in cardiac ion channels. In this review we tried to draw attention to SIDS as an important cause of death in childhood period and association of SIDS with long QT syndrome which is not necessarily noticed by physicians.