Reye Syndrome
Basics
Description
- Reye syndrome is described as acute noninflammatory encephalopathy and fatty degeneration of the liver which may be idiopathic or secondary.
- Reye syndrome is associated with aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) therapy, whereas Reye-like syndromes are due to metabolic disorders or other etiologies that manifest similar to Reye syndrome.
- Patients must meet all of the following criteria of Reye syndrome by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
- Acute, noninflammatory encephalopathy that is documented clinically by (i) an alteration in consciousness and, if available, (ii) a record of the CSF containing ≤8 leukocytes/mm3 or a histologic specimen demonstrating cerebral edema without perivascular or meningeal inflammation
- Acute encephalopathy must be associated with either (i) fatty metamorphosis of liver documented by a liver biopsy or an autopsy or (ii) a 3-fold or greater increase in the levels of the serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), or elevated serum ammonia levels.
- No more reasonable explanation for the cerebral and hepatic abnormalities
Epidemiology
- Both sexes are affected equally.
- Caucasians represent 93% of all age groups <18 years old affected. African Americans represent only 5%.
- Age: Infants 1 year old are 13.5%, and school-age children 5 to 14 years old are 53.5% of all cases.
- Association with ingestion of aspirin-containing medicines by children with varicella or influenza B infection.
- Reye-like illness is often associated with fatty acid oxidation defects and other inborn errors of metabolism.
Incidence
- Peak incidence of 555 cases in children in the United States in 1980
- In 1980, CDC cautioned physicians and parents about not to use salicylates in children with varicella or influenza-like illness.
- In 1982, the U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory on the use of salicylates and Reye syndrome.
- Due to increased awareness about association of aspirin and Reye syndrome and improved diagnostic tests for disorders of inborn errors of metabolism (IEM), Reye syndrome incidence dramatically decreased since 1980s.
- From 1994 to 1997, there were no more than two cases of Reye syndrome annually.
- Reye-like illness due to metabolic causes should be suspected now in all cases with this presentation.
Pathophysiology
- Mitochondrial injury of unknown etiology in a viral-infected host results in dysfunction of oxidative phosphorylation and fatty acid oxidation.
- Mitochondrial toxins, usually salicylates, exacerbate the condition when ingested after mitochondrial injury.
- Postmortem findings:
- Liver: grossly yellowish-white due to increased triglyceride levels; foamy cytoplasm with increased microvesicular fat, decreased glycogen
- Brain: marked edema with increased intracellular fluid and loss of neurons
- Abnormal-looking mitochondria can be detected in many tissues.
- Multiple organ involvement may be present in fatty acid oxidation or other defects.
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Citation
Cabana, Michael D., editor. "Reye Syndrome." 5-Minute Pediatric Consult, 8th ed., Wolters Kluwer, 2019. Pediatrics Central, peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/5-Minute-Pediatric-Consult/617510/all/Reye_Syndrome.
Reye Syndrome. In: Cabana MDM, ed. 5-Minute Pediatric Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2019. https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/5-Minute-Pediatric-Consult/617510/all/Reye_Syndrome. Accessed October 13, 2024.
Reye Syndrome. (2019). In Cabana, M. D. (Ed.), 5-Minute Pediatric Consult (8th ed.). Wolters Kluwer. https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/5-Minute-Pediatric-Consult/617510/all/Reye_Syndrome
Reye Syndrome [Internet]. In: Cabana MDM, editors. 5-Minute Pediatric Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2019. [cited 2024 October 13]. Available from: https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/5-Minute-Pediatric-Consult/617510/all/Reye_Syndrome.
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