Haemoglobin F levels in sudden infant deaths

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Abstract
Summary. Fetal haemoglobin levels have been measured prospectively in 1 35 autopsy cases of sudden, unexpected infant deaths (51 pre‐term. 104 full term) using standard laboratory methods. These results have been compared with Hb F values from a normal control group of 570 living infants (145 pre‐term, 425 full‐term) with a post‐conceptional age < 90 weeks. The gestational age was established for all live controls and sudden infant deaths. The results show that full‐term (> 38 weeks gestational age) sudden infant death victims as a group have significantly elevated Hb F levels (χ= 25.20. P2= 1.20, n.s.) The division of the controls into pre‐ and full‐term groups demonstrates major differences between the post‐natal Hb F fall in pre‐ and full‐term infants. Use of post‐conceptional age as a growth marker does not produce comparability with full‐term infants. Extensive controls were carried out to confirm the reliability of post‐mortem Hb F assays, and comparability with in vivo estimation. No significant or systematic differences between pre‐ and post‐mortem samples were identified, nor were any significant differences found on post‐mortem storage up to 72 h.

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