Preemies' Low Blood Pressure Linked to SIDS

Related Encyclopedia • Acne • Alagille Syndrome • Appendicitis • Asthma in Children More... Related Animations • Animation: What is Hypertension? • Dental Cavities More... Related Healthscout Videos Weighted Belt for Autism? Teaching Old Docs New Tricks Lead in Soil. Lead in Soil More... Related Drug Information • Adderal XR • Concerta • Strattera More... Related News Articles • Children Aware of Racism • Report: Young Athletes Need Dual Screening for Heart Defects • Native Tongue Begins in the Womb • Childhood Brain Tumors Leave Lasting Mark More...

Page:  << Prev | 1 | 2

"I do not believe there is enough evidence that control of blood pressure is inadequate just because the systolic pressure in preemies is lower than average," Guntheroth said. "This may well be because they are small."

Preemies do have pulmonary problems, of course, and it's likely that this accounts for an increase in SIDS, Guntheroth said. "The pulmonary problems may induce a degree of low oxygen that can increase the frequency of apnea with bradycardia, but that is a very basic response that does not indicate an immaturity of control of the cardiovascular system," he said.

Another SIDS expert also said it's not known whether low blood pressure increases the risk of SIDS.

Text Continues Below

---

"The unresolved question is whether these differences in blood pressure have any relevance for the increased risk for SIDS that preterms have -- that's unclear," said Dr. Carl E. Hunt, an adjunct professor of pediatrics at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, in Bethesda, Md.

"The extent to which the inability to recover normal blood pressure is a precipitating event for SIDS, we have no idea," said Hunt, who's also a director at the American SIDS Institute. "It's difficult to prove and it has not been proven."

More information

For more on SIDS, visit the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Page:  << Prev | 1 | 2