A Case of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death with Presumptive SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Case Presentation
2.1. Patient
2.2. Materials and Methods
3. Results
- With antibodies against fibrinogen: focal fibrin deposits are observed as strands along the inner surface of the alveoli, along the apical portion of bronchial epithelial cells, as well as fibrin thrombi in the capillaries of the interalveolar septa (Figure 1C).
- With antibodies against CD68: marked expression of the marker is observed, with 30–40 macrophages visualized per high-power field (×400), and their number increasing to 50 or more in clusters (Figure 2D).
- With antibodies against CD8: 10–15 T lymphocytes are identified per high power field (×400), with their concentration increasing to 30–35 cells within lymphocytic aggregates (Figure 2A).
- With antibodies against CD20: 15–20 B lymphocytes are identified per high power field (×400), increasing to 30–35 or more cells within lymphocytic aggregates (Figure 2C).
- With antibodies against CD4: 3–6 T lymphocytes are identified per high power field (×400), with focal increase to 8–10 cells (Figure 2B).
- As a first negative control for SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid staining, phosphate buffer (pH 7.6) was applied to the paraffin section of the lung from the investigated case instead of antibodies against this antigen. No expression was observed on these sections (Figure 3A). For the second negative control, lung tissue from a child with viral pneumonia who died from causes other than COVID-19 was used. In this specimen, expression was likewise absent (Figure 3B).
- With antibodies against COVID 19 nucleocapsid protein: markedly pronounced expression (+++) was detected in the endothelium of microcirculatory vessels, bronchial epithelium, alveolar macrophages, and alveolocytes (Figure 4A).
- With antibodies against IL-6: no expression was detected (negative, confirmed twice).
- With antibodies against TNF-α: no expression was detected (negative, confirmed twice).
- With antibodies against CD31: the capillary network demonstrates a discontinuous pattern, with focal loss of marker expression in the endothelium of some capillaries, and areas of absent expression fields are noted. At the same time, marked expression (+++) is focally observed in the endothelium of microcirculatory vessels (Figure 4B).
- With antibodies against IFN-γ: marked expression (+++) is observed in the endothelium of microcirculatory vessels, bronchial epithelium, alveolocytes, and alveolar macrophages (25–30 cells per high power field at ×400 magnification) (Figure 4C).
- With antibodies against CD95: moderately pronounced expression (++) is observed in the endothelium of some microcirculatory vessels, as well as marked expression (+++) in the bronchial epithelium, alveolar macrophages, and alveolocytes (Figure 4D).
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
Abbreviations
| SUID | Sudden Unexpected Infant Death |
| SIDS | Sudden Infant Death Syndrome |
| IL-6 | Interleukin-6 |
| TNF-α | Tumor Necrosis Factor-α |
| IFN-γ | Interferon-γ |
| PCR | Polymerase Chain Reaction |
| DNA | Deoxyribonucleic Acid |
| IHC | Immunohistochemical |
| CD | Cluster of Differentiation |
| CRP | C-Reactive Protein |
| ICAM-1 | Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1 |
| H&E | Hematoxylin and eosin |
| DIC | Disseminated intravascular coagulation |
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Galichina, V.A.; Nasyrov, R.A.; Davydova, Z.V.; Gabaraev, S.E.; Yagmurov, O.D. A Case of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death with Presumptive SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27, 4604. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27104604
Galichina VA, Nasyrov RA, Davydova ZV, Gabaraev SE, Yagmurov OD. A Case of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death with Presumptive SARS-CoV-2 Infection. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2026; 27(10):4604. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27104604
Chicago/Turabian StyleGalichina, Veronika A., Ruslan A. Nasyrov, Zlata V. Davydova, Simon E. Gabaraev, and Orasmurad D. Yagmurov. 2026. "A Case of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death with Presumptive SARS-CoV-2 Infection" International Journal of Molecular Sciences 27, no. 10: 4604. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27104604
APA StyleGalichina, V. A., Nasyrov, R. A., Davydova, Z. V., Gabaraev, S. E., & Yagmurov, O. D. (2026). A Case of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death with Presumptive SARS-CoV-2 Infection. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 27(10), 4604. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27104604

