Mitochondrial DNA content: A new biomarker for sudden intrauterine unexplained death syndrome (SIUDS)

Abstract In literature there are no data related to mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content in sudden intrauterine unexplained death syndrome (SIUDS). To test the hypothesis that a quantitative excess of mtDNA could play a role in the pathogenesis of SIUDS, mtDNA content was measured in cerebral cortex of 9 SIUDS and in 7 controls. The median (interquartile range) mtDNA in SIUDS and controls was 14,000 (8600–33,500), 3400 (0–8500) copies per nuclear DNA, respectively ( p  = 0.007). If mitochondria are involved in SIUDS, then higher mitochondrial DNA content may be a biomarker of this syndrome.