Reye's Syndrome: Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment With Peritoneal Dialysis

Abstract

Twenty-four cases of Reye's syndrome are studied with regard to the effect of peritoneal dialysis on survival and with regard to the clinical criteria for diagnosis. A good correlation is observed between the typical clinical presentation with abnormal prothrombin time, SGOT, SGPT and blood ammonia levels and the abnormal liver histology described in Reye's syndrome. Of the 11 patients treated with hepatic coma regimen and peritoneal dialysis, 9 (82%) lived. Two of the 13 patients (15%) treated only with the hepatic coma regimen lived (p < .025). When used before evidence of irreversible brain stem damage, peritoneal dialysis is a mode of therapy which may offer hope in reversing the high mortality of Reye's syndrome.