SIDS: a pathophysiologic solution?

Recent massive reductions in SIDS cases, world-wide, since the introduction of parental advice to sleep infants in the supine position, has the epidemiologic value of eliminating some hypotheses and strengthening others. A pathophysiologic cause of death now seems likely rather than a pathologic one. Without the characteristic morbidity consistent in disease, epidemiologically identified risk factors may assume primary importance. However, this hypothesis suggests that in addition to such risks, there may be an unrecognised pathologic condition in some infants which potentiates susceptibility.