Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease as a cause of sudden infant death

Clinical and gross autopsy findings on a 3-month-old infant were consistent with the sudden infant death syndrome. However, on histologic examination pulmonary veno-occlusive disease was found. Five previous cases of pulmonary veno-occlusive disease appearing in infancy are reviewed. In infants, the disease is initially observed as feeding difficulty and/or failure to thrive, often accompanied by mild respiratory distress. Two of the infants died suddenly. While neither cause nor pathogenesis can be determined, it is important to recognize the process and include it among the possible causes of sudden infant death.