title: Reflex apnoea response and inflammatory mediators in infants with respiratory tract infection.
abstract: The reflex apnoea response to water stimulation was evaluated in infants with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection and compared to the response in non-infected infants who had sustained an apparent life-threatening event (ALTE) or were siblings of infants who had died of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). RSV-infected infants had a significantly (p < 0.05) reinforced reflex apnoea response compared with non-infected infants. There was a significant negative correlation between the concentration of interleukin 1 beta (IL-I beta) in pharyngeal secretions and the duration of apnoea (p < 0.01). Increased clinical severity was, however, associated with high (> 5.000 pg ml-1) concentrations of IL-1 beta. There was no correlation between apnoea and interleukin 6. These findings may be relevant for the understanding of why apnoea may be the presenting symptom of RSV infection, and offer an explanation of why a proportion of SIDS cases has a history of mild respiratory tract symptoms prior to death.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Aker University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lindgren
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grögaard
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000032:analysis*; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000032:analysis; D007830:Larynx / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000378:metabolism; D012021:Reflex, Abnormal / Q000502:physiology*; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018113:Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013398:Sudden Infant Death / Q000209:etiology; D013650:Taste Buds / Q000503:physiopathology; D014867:Water / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D007375:Interleukin-1; D014867:Water