Siblings of sudden infant death syndrome and near miss in about 30 families: is there a genetic factor?

The purposes of this study were: (1) to compare our data with those reported in the general population; (2) to find a factor implicated in repetitive accidents; (3) to look for a possible genetic factor; and (4) to evaluate whether or not the risk of recurrence was the same in a family with two or more infants having died of sudden intant death syndrome (SIDS) as in the general population. We study retrospectively 77 files which constitute a group of 30 families which was analysed with reference to a list of data laid out in the shape of genealogical trees. Our study shows that risk factors are similar to those described previously and repetitive among siblings or cousins. The rate of recurrence is not available for the general population. On studying some family trees, we can speculate on the existence of an autosomal dominant gene with incomplete penetrance. (C) 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.