[Histochemistry and immunohistochemistry of the lung in sudden infant death]

Histochemical and immunohistochemical findings in respiratory tract of suddenly deceased infants were a bit different from those with violent death immediately after trauma. The bronchial wall inflammatory infiltration and foci of peribronchial lymphatic tissue did not show any substantial difference in both groups but findings in lung interstitium proper did. A regular finding was the presence of activated macrophages in interstitium and alveolar lumina and an increase of B and T lymphocytes in lung tissue as well. Lung findings in suddenly deceased infants do not have character of a shock lesion bud represents an initial phase of acute inflammation.