Quantitative study of the lymphatic tissue and germinal centres in the spleen in infants dying from expected and unexpected causes (cot deaths).

The amount of malpighian body lymphatic tissue and germinal centre tissue in the spleens of infants dying in hospital and dying unexpectedly at home have been examined in 471 cases. The total weight of the spleens in children dying at home unexpectedly do not differ significantly from children dying from expected causes. There is an increase in both the amount of lymphatic tissue and in the amount of germinal centre tissue in the children found unexpectedly dead. It is concluded that these children do not show any evidence of cellular immunological deficiency but that they have probably been subjected to recurrent or to a greater amount of antigenic stimulation during their brief post-natal existence.