HLA and the sudden infant death syndrome.

Abstract

HLA phenotypes of 66 parents of 33 infants succumbing to the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) were determined using a standard microlymphocytotoxicity method. Heterogeneity testing over all locus antigens revealed a significant difference between the parents and a control group consisting of blood donors and healthy unrelated volunteers. This heterogeneity was still evident when maternal and paternal groups were considered separately with the controls and when compared with each other. Individual A locus antigens displaying frequency deviation from control values included A9 (decreased in husbands), A10 (increased in wives and total parent group), and A28 (increased in wives). The increas..