Reye's syndrome. Clinical revision (author's transl)

Authors studied nine cases of Reye's syndrome, seen over a period of five years. Their ages ranged from 45 days to 3 6/12 years, eight being less than a year old. Mortality rate was 55% and two of the four surviving children presented serious neurological sequelas. In all cases liver pathology was studied by percutaneous biopsy and/or necropsy. Clinical, analitical and anatomopathological findings were similar to those usually described in this syndrome. Medical literature was revised as to etiology and pathology, noting specially the tendency of this syndrome to present in groups, its possible relationship to viral epidemics and the inconsistency of the results of certain therapeutic measures widely used until now. The possible relationship between Reye's syndrome and the usual infant vaccinations, as they found in two cases, as well as the convenience of hepatic studies in the event of postvaccinal encephalopathy is suggested.