Reye’s Syndrome

Drug reaction…
 Reye’s Syndrome (RS)

 Systemic illness characterized by:

 Acute liver disease

 Hyperammonic encephalopathy

 Encountered exclusively in
children (<15 yrs)
Clinical Manifestations of RS

 Vomiting (earliest stage of

encephalopathy)
 Progressive CNS damage
 Hepatomegally (no jaundice)
 Hypoglycemia, metabolic acidosis
 Elevated prothrombin time.
 Elevated serum ammonia
 Pathology RS

 Microvesicular steatosis
(indicates mitochodrial energy-
generation defect)

 Fatty vacuolization of renal

tubules
 Etiology and Onset of Reye’s
Syndrome
 Unknown
 Viral agents (Varicella and
Influenza)
 Salicylate ingestion (aspirin)

Onset:
 Usually follows an URTI
 Within 1-3 days, persistent
vomiting occurs; stupor 
generalized convulsion and coma.
 Treatment for Reye’s
Syndrome

 20% glucose
 Fresh-frozen plasma
 Mannitol IV

> To reduce cerebral edema.