We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
LGC Clinical Diagnostics

Download Mobile App




SIDS Blood Test Could Identify At-Risk Babies

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 27 Jan 2025
Print article
Image: The new discovery by researchers could predict SIDS in newborns (Photo courtesy of 123RF)
Image: The new discovery by researchers could predict SIDS in newborns (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) remains the leading cause of death in babies between one month and one year old, with its causes largely unexplained. Researchers have now discovered blood markers linked to SIDS, paving the way for potential tests to identify infants at risk and contributing to understanding the underlying causes of the condition.

Researchers from the University of Virginia School of Medicine (Charlottesville, VA, USA) analyzed blood serum samples from infants who died of SIDS, identifying specific biological indicators that could help identify warning signs in babies and potentially save lives. In their study, the team examined 828 different metabolites involved in processes like nerve cell communication, stress response, and hormone regulation. These processes could contribute to SIDS.

The researchers found variations in certain fats, specifically sphingomyelins, which are vital for brain and lung development. These differences could disrupt these processes, potentially increasing the risk of SIDS in some infants. After adjusting for factors like age, sex, race, and ethnicity, they identified 35 biomarkers of SIDS, including ornithine—a substance critical for ammonia disposal in urine—and a lipid metabolite linked to brain and lung health. This lipid metabolite is also considered a potential indicator for fetal heart defects.

“The results of this study are very exciting – we are getting closer to explaining the pathways leading to a SIDS death,” said Dr. Fern R. Hauck, a family medicine physician at UVA Health, director of the Chicago Infant Mortality Study and a leading expert on SIDS. “Our hope is that this research lays the groundwork to help identify – through simple blood tests – infants who are at higher risk for SIDS and to save these precious lives.”

Related Links:
UVA School of Medicine

Gold Member
Fully Automated Cell Density/Viability Analyzer
BioProfile FAST CDV
New
Gold Member
Chagas Disease Test
CHAGAS Cassette
New
Parasite Suspension for QC
Cryptosporidium Species Parasite Suspension
New
Procalcitonin Rapid Test
StrongStep Procalcitonin Test

Print article

Channels

Immunology

view channel

3D Bioprinted Gastric Cancer Model Uses Patient-Derived Tissue Fragments to Predict Drug Response

Tumor heterogeneity presents a major obstacle in the development and treatment of cancer therapies, as patients' responses to the same drug can differ, and the timing of treatment significantly influences prognosis. Consequently, technologies that predict the effectiveness of anticancer treatments are essential in minimizing... Read more

Pathology

view channel
Image: The OmicsFootPrint AI tool could open doors to new discoveries (Photo courtesy of Mayo Clinic)

Revolutionary AI Tool Transforms Disease Visualization

Genes serve as the body's blueprint, while proteins execute the instructions within those blueprints to maintain cell function. Occasionally, alterations in these instructions—known as mutations—can interfere... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.