SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA. MEASUREMENT OF SERUM IgE ANTIBODIES TO THREE COMMON ALLERGENS

Radioallergosorbent test (RAST) studies showed that IgE antibodies to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (house dust mite), Aspergillus fumigatus and bovine beta-lactoglobulin were significantly elevated in the sera of infants who died as a result of the sudden death in infancy syndrome (SDIS). No significant differences were found in the levels of total IgE, IgA, IgG or IgM in the sera of SDIS victims or controls. The possible role of hypersensitivity in the aetiology of SDIS is discussed.