[Immunohistochemical findings in the central nervous system in sudden infant death]

In a group of 7 infants suddenly dying at the age up to 1 year a histological and immunohistochemical investigation was performed aimed to prove possible chronic hypoxic and latent traumatic changes. Presence of ubiquitin and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) was detected in axon and neurons. In six suddenly dying infants an immunohistochemical positivity was found with antibodies against ubiquitin in brain stem neurons. Antibodies against NSE showed positivity of the white matter was lacking in the detection both of ubiquitin and NSE. Among 12 persons dying of craniocerebral injury an intensive NSE immunopositivity was found in traumatized axons of 7 cases and ubiquitin positivity in 5 cases while brain stem neurons did not show any ubiquitin positivity. Bain stem neurons at sudden death were strongly NSE positive in 5 case, weakly positive in 3 cases and negative in 4 deceased. The combined proof of ubiquitin and NSE in neurons and axons at infant sudden death appears to he advantageous because it combines the detection of traumatic changes and chronic hypoxic lesions as well.