ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 1 October 1986
Page Count: 5

Dicyclomine in the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)—A Cause of Death or an Incidental Finding?
Randall, B
Forensic pathologist, Laboratory of Clinical Medicine and associate professor, University of South Dakota School of Medicine, SD

Rance, F
Pathologist assistant, Laboratory of Clinical Medicine and instructor, University of South Dakota School of Medicine, SD

Gerry, G
President and laboratory director, Technical Assistance Corp., SD

(Received 27 November 1985; accepted 27 January 1986)

Abstract

We report a case of a small infant apparently dying of the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) with a postmortem blood dicyclomine level of 200 ng/mL. Review of the literature and the comparison with blood dicyclomine values from four rabbits given equivalent doses suggests that a blood dicyclomine value of 200 ng/mL probably is in the therapeutic range for infants. Although safely used for years for infantile colic, recently, the administration of dicyclomine has been related to acute episodes of apnea, seizures, and coma. In the absence of those acute reactions, we feel that a 200-ng/mL blood dicyclomine level in a child dying of apparent SIDS should not prevent categorization of the death as SIDS.

Keywords:
pathology and biology, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, dicyclomine

Paper ID: JFS11927J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS11927J
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