Immunohistochemical characterisation of the costochondral junction in SIDS.

AIM To characterise the distribution of major growth plate proteoglycans in a group of infants who died of SIDS. METHODS Nine such infants and eight age matched controls were selected from the necropsy files at the Adelaide Children's Hospital. Sections of rib and adjacent costal cartilage were stained for chondroitin-4-sulphate, chondroitin-6-sulphate, and keratan sulphate with antibodies 2-B-6, 3-B-3, and 5-D-4, respectively, using standard techniques. RESULTS The distribution of proteoglycans within the extracellular matrix of the costochondral junction in the group of SIDS infants was identical with that found in control infants. CONCLUSION Any changes present in the growth plate in cases of SIDS are most likely caused by secondary phenomena.