The cardiac conduction system in sudden infant death syndrome: a report on three cases.

The cardiac conduction systems in three cases of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) were compared with those in children dying from known causes. Foci of inflammatory cells and areas of necrosis were found in SIDS. Lymphocytes and eosinophils were counted in the adjacent myocardium and significantly larger numbers were present in SIDS. These parhological changes in the conduction systems may be capable of producing cardiac arrhythmia and sudden death.