Apparent Life-Threatening Events (ALTE): Italian guidelines

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Medicine
• Clinical Guidelines

Background:

• Guidelines for unexplained events in infants require updates.
• The American Academy of Pediatrics proposed a new entity: Brief Resolved Unexplained Events (BRUE).

Purpose of the Study:

• To revise and update existing guidelines on unexplained events in infants.
• To incorporate the new classification of Brief Resolved Unexplained Events (BRUE).
• To differentiate BRUE from ALTE and address Sudden Unexpected Postnatal Collapse (SUPC).

Main Methods:

• Re-examination of previous queries and recommendations.
• Inclusion of new diagnostic criteria for BRUE.
• Expansion of addressed issues to include SUPC.

Main Results:

• Introduction of BRUE for mild, idiopathic cases.
• Continued use of ALTE for severe, unexplained events after thorough examination.
• Recognition of Sudden Unexpected Postnatal Collapse (SUPC) as a severe form of ALTE.

Conclusions:

• The updated guidelines provide a clearer distinction between BRUE and ALTE.
• The revised framework aids in the diagnosis and management of unexplained infant events.
• The guidelines address the spectrum of unexplained cardiorespiratory events in neonates and infants.