The value of serum IgE assay in milk aspiration and the sudden infant death syndrome.

Global serum levels of IgE (PRIST, Phadebas) and specific anti-cow's milk IgE (RAST) were measured in populations of infants with a history of one or more episodes of milk aspiration (n = 12), victims of the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) (n = 18), "near miss" SIDS infants (n = 23), siblings of a SIDS victim ((n = 21) and control infants (n = 38). Only the infants with a past history of milk aspiration had significantly raised global and specific IgE. The absence of raised specific IgE in the subjects who died from SIDS argues against the hypothesis of sensitisation to cow's milk proteins during a previous episode of aspiration. Nasopharyngeal reflux is frequently seen in near-miss infants. This reflux is more often responsible for reflex apnoea due to stimulation of the laryngeal chemo-receptors than to a fatal aspiration.